High social and ethical values serve as the source of genuine life satisfaction and personal dignity because they allow a person to transcend narrow, egoistic pursuits and connect their life with elements that surpass the individual “I.

Transcending Self: Embracing Universal Ideals

High social and ethical values serve as the source of genuine life satisfaction and personal dignity because they allow a person to transcend narrow, egoistic pursuits and connect their life with elements that surpass the individual “I.” This helps one define a deeper purpose, find the meaning of existence, and realize potential by serving higher and universal ideals such as truth, goodness, and beauty.

For example, as noted in the material, social values occupy an intermediate position in the hierarchy of human values:
"Thus, social values occupy an intermediate position in the hierarchy of values. Social (collectively-personal) values are higher than egoistic values but lower than transpersonal values. In ranking values by their degree of elevation, we do not lose sight of the organic nature of the value hierarchy, by which in each specific phenomenon many higher values are organically connected with lower values—and sometimes even with negative ones. By ‘transpersonal values’ we mean all values that exceed the value of the individual and should be the object of their service, i.e., the ideal primary values of truth, goodness, and beauty." (source: link txt, pages: 1067-1068)

Such supremacy of ethical values over mere utilitarian pursuits allows a person to attain wholeness, since they do not seek satisfaction through selfish ambitions, but instead focus on eternal ideals that enable fuller expression of their personality. This is also stated, for example:
"In the realm of transpersonal values, there exists a peculiar hierarchy: ethical values have priority over cognitive and aesthetic values. This is evident from the fact that only ethical values possess an imperative character. The very idea of service is primarily ethical, even if the object of service were truth (scientific creativity) or beauty (artistic creativity or aesthetic perception)." (source: link txt, page: 1069)

Thus, a life imbued with high social and ethical values is not limited to the pursuit of mere material or sensual satisfaction. On the contrary, it is precisely the orientation towards something greater, towards universal and transpersonal values, that enables a person to achieve a true sense of freedom, inner wholeness, and responsibility for their own development. This profound connection with higher ideals gives meaning to one’s life path and bestows upon the individual true dignity and satisfaction.

Supporting citation(s):
"Thus, social values occupy an intermediate position in the hierarchy of values. Social (collectively-personal) values are higher than egoistic values but lower than transpersonal values..." (source: link txt, pages: 1067-1068)
"In the realm of transpersonal values, there exists a peculiar hierarchy: ethical values have priority over cognitive and aesthetic values..." (source: link txt, page: 1069)