Abstract

As is known to all, values reflect a person’s sense of right and wrong. There is no doubt that certain values have been forged in the long-term communicative and practical activities of a society. As a result, the exploration of American core value can help us to touch the essence and soul of America. One can often identify core values of a society by noting which people receive honor or respect.
Steve Jobs is famous as an American entrepreneur, marketer, inventor and the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. Having been experiencing decades of Apple’s rise and fall, he has been in charge of the Macintosh computer (Macintosh), iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and other popular global electronics, which have profoundly changed the manner of modern communication, entertainment and lifestyle. His striking pursuit of perfection and indomitable will have revolutionized six industries, including animated movies, personal computers, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. His story is instructive and thought-provoking with the enlightenment of values.
This paper consists of three parts. The first part is something about Steve Jobs from the perspective of life, career and main characters. The second part gives a brief introduction of American core value. The third part focuses on the analysis about the characteristics of American core value from Steve Jobs’ point of view, which is marked by different thinking way, simplicity, self-realization and perfectionism.

Key words: Steve Jobs; American core value; enlightenment

摘  要

众所周知,价值反映了一个人的是非观。毫无疑问,一个社会在长期的交流和实践活动中必然形成一定的价值观。因此,对美国核心价值的探讨可以帮助我们了解美国的精髓和灵魂。人们通常可以通过了解那些受人爱戴，备受推崇的人身上，确定一个社会的核心价值观。
乔布斯是美国著名的企业家、商人和发明家，他也是美国苹果公司联合创办人，董事长兼首席执行官。他经历了苹果公司几十年的兴衰，负责推出了麦金塔计算机（Macintosh）、iMac、iPod、iPhone、iPad等风靡全球的电子产品，这使得现代通讯、娱乐、生活方式发生了深刻的改变。他追求完美的激情和不屈不挠的意志使得6大产业发生了颠覆性变革，即动画电影、个人电脑、音乐、移动电话、平板电脑以及数字出版。他的故事具有启发意义，又发人深省，充满了价值观的教益。
该论文包括三个部分：第一部分将从生活、事业和性格方面来介绍乔布斯；第二部分简要介绍美国的核心价值观；第三部分从乔布斯的立场来分析美国当代核心价值观的特征,其中包括不同的思维方式、简单、自我实现和完美主义。

关键词：史蒂夫•乔布斯；美国核心价值观；启示