The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MORALISM
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "tendency to make value judgments" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tendency to make value judgments = moralism.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MORALISM mean?
MORALISM noun- The act or practice of moralizing (making moral reflections or judging the morality of others).
- A maxim or saying believed by the speaker to embody a moral truth; an instance of moralizing.
- Religious practice that focuses on morality while placing little emphasis on doctrine or the metaphysical; adherence to a system of morality with little or no reference to religion.