so far, we are talking about context, but there is a dimension of time / cycles of life / global economic & society & political cycles. This time dimension affect value of pple. People's core value would likely be humans themselves - 'self and others'.

and, freedom and rules / law are related. We are humans in settlements, with relationship with God. So, we need rules / law to set us free.

interpretation of laws is the sphere of God but elaboration of the interpretation can be done by men

in the ensuing artificial reality world - metaverse - we will see humans value downgraded at the expense towards things / matter / issues. Sad. Please write your book with in mind the need to redeem humanity.

law and morality goes hand in hand, one can enhance or demote the others.

7 Noahide laws

think of Holocaust was lack of morals and thus with the help of law, brought humanity downhill to trash

can I venture to say, there is no single core value, some central values do exist, but all these lead to a single goal - maintain humanity

are philosophers free to think and be?

freedom of one can intrude into that of others. they clash with each other; just as in gay right.