To paraphrase the remark commonly attributed to Hermann Göring, whenever I hear the word values, I feel inclined to reach for the revolver within arm’s length. Anyone who invokes this term immediately arouses my suspicion. I invariably wonder what is expected of me by those who brandish “values” as a banner. What are their hidden intentions? Are they seeking to persuade me—or to manipulate me?

One revealing fact deserves attention. A Google search yields no encyclopedic entry devoted to the generic concept of values. By contrast, it returns numerous references linking the term to religious themes, such as Jewish consciousness or a return to religion. Is this really a coincidence?

Over the past several decades, the term values has become one of the most pervasive expressions in political discourse. In the mouths of those who employ it, it functions as an unquestionable badge of legitimacy and presents itself as the natural foundation of public debate and the justification of normative positions. Yet there is no reason why this notion should be exempt from philosophical or sociological scrutiny. The issue is not merely to question one particular value or another, but to challenge the very use of the concept itself, its ideological implications, and........

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