Frequently asked questions about thinking, epistemology, and cognitive tools. 9738 answers
Your values are not fixed. They evolve as you gain experience, encounter new perspectives, and move through different life stages. Treating values as permanent is a form of self-imprisonment.
Also asked: midlife value shiftpersonal values evolutionvalues change over time
Core values are ends in themselves — they define what a good life means to you. Instrumental values are means — they are valuable because they serve core values. Confusing the two leads to optimizing for the wrong things.
Also asked: terminal values instrumental valuesRokeach value surveymeans-ends inversion valuesintrinsic extrinsic valuesGoodhart law valuesvalues hierarchy personalAI alignment reward specification valuescore values versus instrumental values
Your values will conflict with each other. Freedom conflicts with security. Achievement conflicts with balance. These conflicts are not errors — they are the natural consequence of having a rich, multi-dimensional value system.
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