Abstract
As a Neo-Pragmatist Philosopher Hans Joas Concept of Value
As an important neo-pragmatist philosopher Hans Joas notes that the term of value is
very controversial in academic circles. But the analysis of how values arise have failed.
For this reason he refers in ‘The Genesis of Values’ to some classical philosophers in
sociology and philosophy. He presents and discusses their conception of values and the
genesis of values. As a result of his research he formulates his own theory of the genesis
of values under the inspiration of Pragmatism: ‘Values, arise from the experiences of selfformation and self-transcendence of humanbeings. But Joas doesn’t refer to transcendental
existence. He uses this term as going beyond ourselves. And self- formation is a process
in that individuals achieve their self-identity.
Keywords
Value, Genesis of Values, Transcendence, Experience, Identity, Self.
