What constitute the good life is a question as old as philosophy and humankind, one that must be periodically reevaluated and answered afresh in the changing environment if the world’s society. The appropriate answer for the third world nations of the last decade of the twentieth century is not necessarily the same as it would have been in previous decade. But we agree at least three basic components or the basic core values should serve as the conceptual basis and practical guideline for understanding the inner meaning of development.
The core values are: sustenance, self-esteem, and freedom.
They relate to fundamental human needs that find their expression in almost all societies and cultures at all time.
Sustenance: all people have certain basic needs without life would be impossible. These lives sustaining basic human needs include food, shelter, health and protection. When any of these is absent or is in critically short supply, a condition of “absolute underdevelopment” exists.
Self-esteem: a sense of worth and self-respect, of not being used by the others for their own ends. All peoples’ and societies seek some basic form of self-esteem although they may call it authentication, identity, dignity, respect, honor, or recognition.
Freedom: freedom here is to be understood in the sense of emancipation from alienating the material conditions of life and from social servitude to nature, ignorance, other people, nature etc.
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