Axiological Approach
The axiological approach is a philosophy of valuing that prioritizes the study of values and the meaning of values in human activities and decision making. It is definitely an important means through how values can direct change in the cultural normative system, desirability, and individual actions; therefore, values break the moral dilemma and social interaction.
Values analysis comes to the fore through the axiological approach. This method tracks the distribution of values and value implications in different settings; therefore, it traces back to their origin and their influences. It concerns itself with the positive or negative impact of values on individual actions and social customs as well as on the corresponding moral frameworks, thus making it possible for individuals and communities to carry out the self-critique. Axialism in the curriculum defines for teachers the basic values to be taught and transferred to the students using them and thus, directly affects the process of moral formation.
Axiological approach finds its strong connection with ethics. Since ethics can be used as the basic underlying for evaluating moral principles and standards, this is axiological approach, in a way of its own, the reason why morals are as they are in society. Based on the underlying ethical value of a theory, the axiological approach to ethics shows the way towards the recognition of the right and wrong actions. The example of this can be the case of arguments regarding social justice, in which the axiological approach reveals the values promoted by different viewpoints on equality and fairness.
An illustration of the application of the axiological approach can be clearly inferred from the practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Firms typically resort to this approach for the purpose of harmonizing their business operations with social values including sustainability and community development. By recognizing the values that the essential parties involved consider to be the most important, the firms will be able to develop the kind of strategies that would not only raise their public image and reputation but also make a positive effect on society. For example, an organization that gives first place to environmental values may start to conduct its operations in a more ecological way and, as a result, it will be able to assure the customers who care about sustainability.
According to the detractors of the values-based perspective, refer to its tendency to be excessively subjective and to cause relativism, where the demarcation between good and evil becomes ambiguous. Beyond that, some express that merely concentrating on values might miss the point about the essential role of facts and rational thinking in the decision-making processes. Suppose, for instance, that during political debates emphasizing personal values even reasoning the opposing view becomes problem believing to the contrary, therefore, the outcoming divided viewpoints.