Final answer:
A value is a term for an enduring concept of right or wrong, good or bad, such as honesty or freedom, which reflects deeply held beliefs and evaluations. Values guide behavior and form the cornerstone of various ethical frameworks, influencing not only personal well-being but also social justice and ethical practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for an enduring concept of right or wrong, good or bad, such as honesty, trustworthiness, and freedom, is often referred to as a "value." Values represent deep-rooted beliefs and evaluations about morality, politics, aesthetics, and social issues, reflecting what individuals or societies believe should be the case. They influence behavior and serve as benchmarks for judging actions and decisions.
In the realm of ethics, these values are scrutinized under approaches like virtue ethics, which focuses on the cultivation of good character traits or virtues. This perspective suggests that values like honesty or trustworthiness are integral to our well-being, enhancing what is beneficial for individuals beyond merely abstract concepts.
Values also play a significant role in forming ethical frameworks, such as deontology or divine command theories, which establish that actions are intrinsically right or wrong. Under these frameworks, values are not merely personal preferences but align with inherent principles, universal maxims, or divine injunctions that command an objective moral order. They underscore the concept of justice, reflecting a society's morals and standards, ensuring people are judged and treated fairly according to commonly accepted laws.