Epäarvot

Epäarvot is Finnish a term used to describe values that are not valued or that are opposed to accepted social or moral values. The word combines ep- (a negation) with arvo (value), and in the plural form epäarvot refers to multiple such anti-values or disvaluations.

Conceptual sense and scope: Epäarvot are not simply the absence of values; they denote beliefs, practices, or traits that undermine, contradict, or are judged harmful to a society’s or an individual’s core values. In ethical, sociological and educational contexts, epäarvot are contrasted with positive values (such as honesty, equality, responsibility) to illuminate what should be avoided or reformed.

Usage and examples: In values education, discussions of epäarvot help students recognize behaviors to critique or reject, such as deception, intolerance, exploitation, or violence. In organizational ethics or public discourse, labeling a practice as an epäarvo signals normative condemnation and a call for change. The specific content of epäarvot varies across cultures and historical periods, reflecting local norms and concerns.

Relation to other concepts: Epäarvot are related to moral vices, negative values, and anti-values. They are evaluative tools used in discourse about ethics and social norms rather than universal constants; their exact listing depends on cultural context and ongoing moral debate.

See also: arvo, arvojärjestys, moraali, etiikka, arvojen kassakirja.