In a Lincoln-Douglas Debate
you will need to be able to explain not only which values you are defending but
what type of value you are using.
There are several methods to use to categorize the values. These are the four most common categories
that values are put into.
Universal
Values: These
are values that there is nearly unanimous agreement as to the importance of
them. These would include Sanctity of
human life, Peace, and human dignity.
Instrumental
Values: These
are values that can be used to get something else. In other words the value is an instrument
which allows you to get some other things.
Examples of these would include Progress (which allows leisure time), Freedom (Through
which we can get dignity and/or self actualization), and Knowledge(which helps us get economic
prosperity, and progress).
Intrinsic
Values: Something
has intrinsic worth simply because of what it is and not necessarily what it
will lead to or because of its acceptance.
Some possible examples of intrinsic values would include beauty, artistic
expression, and happiness. We value them because they are an important
aspect of life.
Prerequisite
Values: These
are values that are necessary before you can get to some bigger goal. It is similar to the prerequisite course that
you must take in order to get to the more advanced course. Some good examples of this type of value
include safety (which is needed before people can even think about having
anything else),
Justice (which is needed before we can move onto equality), or the common good (which must be honored if
we can ever get to a state of peace).
Paramount
Values: Think
of this type of value like you think of Paramount Studios with the large
mountain. It is the value which is above
all other things. Some examples of this
might include freedom (which many people have given up their lives for and see
as essential to a decent life) or sanctity of life (which if we do not value or
have renders everything else worthless).
Operative
Values: This type of values are
the ways that we make judgements on how to live the
rest of our lives. We use these values
as the overarching and guiding principles which tell us what is always right
and wrong. These are things such as Integrity,
Honesty, and Loyality.
****Please note that values can fit into any number of these categories. It is up to the debaters to define them and their importance. The essence of a Lincoln-Douglas debate lies in the debaters comparing the worth of their values by showing how one may take priority over others because of what it gets us.