Cultural Essentials versus Universal Values?

It is generally accepted to define the time we live in as an epoch of globalization. The UN Millennium Declaration (of 8 September, 2000) affirms the aim of globalization to be the formation of a common future for all the peoples on the planet. Globality as a new dimension of human existence cannot be achieved if it is not based on uni-versally shared values. Yet, do universal values really exist? If universal values exist what is the relation between them and the essentials of different cultures? Is an opposition between them inevitable? What is the way to reduce tension and conflicts between the two? These are some of the most urgent questions that need to be answered. In our attempt to find the answers to these questions we should first clarify a number of notions. Philosophical usage of a term ‘value ’ is no doubt various and conflicting. In the context of the issue under discussion it might look proper (joining a long line of philosophers including the ancient like Aristotle and the modern like Santayana) to regard value as the end of our pursuit, as a quality ascribed to what we desire