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Education in Human Values

Planting the Seed of Sustainability in Young Minds

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Abstract

Most conventional strategies adopted for achieving sustainability are designed to bring about external changes in the form of technological, institutional, and infrastructural changes. However, past experiences in development show without inner changes – changes in our values, which influence our attitudes and behavior – external changes are unable to achieve sustainability. Materialistic values such as money, material possessions, power, social status, recognition, fame, and reputation etc., dominant in our modern society cause our relationships with fellow human beings and with nature to be self-centered and exploitative, and our behavior unsustainable. To achieve sustainability, these external changes need to be supplemented with inner changes to bring a shift from materialistic values to human values: love, truth, right conduct, peace, and nonviolence, leading to relationships that are selfless, loving, and nonexploitative. Thus, human values can play a significant role in achieving sustainability. Recent discoveries in quantum physics and neuroscience have revealed that these human values are intrinsic to human beings and are hardwired in our brains. Education in human values is a program designed to bring out these values and guide our behavior and attitudes. Drawing on empirical evidence from the value-based water education implemented by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in six African countries, this chapter highlights the potential capacity of education in human values to plant the seed of sustainability in young minds.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    (Sathya Sai Baba was a highly revered spiritual leader and world teacher, whose life and message are inspiring millions of people throughout the world to turn God-ward and to lead more purposeful and moral lives. His timeless and universal teachings, along with the manner in which he leads his own life, are attracting seekers of Truth from all the religions of the world. Yet, he is not seeking to start a new religion. Nor does he wish to direct followers to any particular religion. Rather, he urges us to continue to follow the religion of our choice and/or upbringing. For further information, please visit https://www.sathyasai.org/intro/message.htm)

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Richard Wallis and Kim Penny for providing editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. (Former) Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Rohana Ulluwishewa

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  1. Rohana Ulluwishewa
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Correspondence to Rohana Ulluwishewa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Woodbury University, Burbank, California, USA

    Joan Marques

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Ulluwishewa, R. (2018). Education in Human Values. In: Marques, J. (eds) Handbook of Engaged Sustainability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71312-0_23

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