✅ 7. Core Domains of Value & Anti-Value

Human life is complex, but the values that sustain it can be organized into core domains — broad areas of existence that are essential for flourishing. Each domain has its positive expressions (values) and its destructive counterparts (anti-values).


Health & Disease

  • Value (Health): The state of a well-functioning body and mind, capable of sustaining life, energy, and purposeful action.
    Examples: Physical fitness, mental stability, immunity, nutrition, and restorative sleep.

  • Anti-value (Disease/Injury): Anything that undermines biological functioning, causes pain, or limits the capacity to act.
    Examples: Illness, chronic injury, malnutrition, and debilitating disorders.

Explanation: Health is the foundation of all other values. Without it, pursuing wealth, freedom, or happiness becomes difficult or impossible. Disease and injury signal misalignment with the biological standard and must be prevented, mitigated, or treated.


Wealth & Poverty

  • Value (Wealth): The accumulation of resources, skills, and means necessary to sustain life, pursue goals, and exercise agency.
    Examples: Food, shelter, tools, money, knowledge, and productive skills.

  • Anti-value (Poverty): The deprivation of resources, skills, or means that hinders flourishing or forces dependence.
    Examples: Starvation, homelessness, lack of education, or economic oppression.

Explanation: Wealth is not indulgence; it is a practical tool for life. Poverty is an obstacle that restricts freedom, security, and the ability to pursue higher-order values like happiness and creativity.


Freedom & Slavery

  • Value (Freedom): The capacity to act, choose, and pursue values without coercion, oppression, or unnecessary constraint.
    Examples: Political liberty, freedom of expression, autonomy in thought and action.

  • Anti-value (Slavery): Any condition that removes agency, choice, or control over one’s life.
    Examples: Oppression, authoritarian rule, forced labor, and manipulation.

Explanation: Freedom enables the pursuit of all other values. Without it, even the healthiest, wealthiest, or happiest individuals are constrained, unable to act fully according to reason and purpose.


Peace & War

  • Value (Peace): The absence of destructive conflict, allowing security, stability, and flourishing in both personal and social life.
    Examples: Civil stability, safe communities, diplomatic resolution, and social trust.

  • Anti-value (War/Conflict): Any violent or destructive condition that threatens life, property, and social cohesion.
    Examples: Armed conflict, terrorism, riots, and systemic violence.

Explanation: Peace is the environment in which other values can grow. War and violent conflict destroy health, wealth, freedom, and happiness. Societies that prioritize peace maximize the potential for collective flourishing.

Summary Table: Domains of Value

Domain Value Anti-value / Harm Key Insight
Health Physical & mental well-being Disease, injury Foundation for all action and flourishing
Wealth Resources & skills Poverty, deprivation Tool for pursuing life’s goals
Freedom Autonomy & choice Slavery, oppression Enables rational pursuit of all values
Peace Stability & safety War, conflict Environment for flourishing

Takeaway: Values are not abstract ideals — they are measurable domains that directly sustain life and happiness. Anti-values are the forces that undermine flourishing, providing clear signals of what must be avoided, mitigated, or corrected. Understanding these domains gives a practical roadmap for both personal success and societal well-being.