What were the values of Rudolf Carnap?

According to Rudolf Carnap it is not possible to present any comprehensive theory of values. This is so because; values depend upon human interest and desires. Carnap divides values in two classes:

1. The relative values and

2. The absolute values

The relative values are born of experience. They are the outcome of desires, interests, likes and dislikes. A man acts according to his values because; these help him achieve the desired ends or goals. The acts done in accordance with absolute values are automatically good. They are not derived from experience.

According to Carnap, all values are meaningless. The statements regarding values are incomplete because, they have neither logical nor scientific evidence in support of these. The belief of certain philosophers that values are universal is mistaken.

The values are nothing but, the outcome of human desires and interests which in the long run assume the status of law. For example, the moral rule that telling lies is bad is an outcome of the experience of man that life is impossible in a society where lying is permissible because, in that event it will be impossible to believe upon anyone. Therefore, it is the interest of man which dictates the moral rule “lying is bad”.

Carnap has formulated three principles of morality. His ethics can be best described as scientific humanism. The three principles of morality proposed by Carnap are:

1. There is no transcendental being who may be regarded to be the destroyer or the preserver of man. It follows, therefore, that for the development and progress of man the self-help or personal efforts by man are indispensable.

2. Man can effect such modifications in the changing circumstances of man that he can gain freedom from pain and disease. These constructive efforts can bring about definite improvement in personal and social life of man.

3. The science is the best instrument for the betterment of human life.

Carnap has made definitive contribution to the realm of knowledge by his linguistic analysis and logical studies. Besides he has also purged philosophy of many redundancies. However, like other logical positivists Carnap has been more successful in condemning philosophy than in presenting a positive philosophy.

The view of Carnap that philosophy has no independent status and that it is dependent upon science is utterly false. As a matter of fact it has an independent status and is in no way dependent upon science.

Without the foundations provided by philosophy it is impossible to raise the structure of science, therefore, it is science which is subject to philosophy and not vice versa. The dictum “Philosophy is science of sciences” expresses a fundamental truth.

The explanation of values by Carnap is based on a misconception. As a matter of fact, values are not just the expression of human desires and interest. The values are the fundamental principles underlying the facts. In order to know the bases of a fact we should know its values.

Carnap has gone into very fine details of logical principles but, has in the process rendered them extremely intricate and complex; he has made his logical and linguistic theories too complicated to be of value.