What is Value? - The Possibility of Value Being Value

[Sikz]

One of the greatest philosophical questions is "What is value?". What if it answers itself; what if value is value?

For instance, we assign a certain value to a certain bit of knowledge. We say that the true value of the knowledge is that it can be used to do something else, which does something else, etc. However, even if we don't use the knowledge it was still valuable. Why?

What if value is just value? Whatever value we assign to that bit of knowledge is its value, and the reason it is value is that it has that value? Heh, a little hard to follow...

I've just attempted to write out some of this stuff in a sort of mathematical form, but I lack the energy to do so correctly right now... But any comments on value, the value of value, purpose as opposed to value, or value being value are welcome. Yeah... :)

 

[selfAdjoint]

Something in our human nature seems to make us want to value what we find in the world. This piece of chipped flint works better than that one. This gem is more prescious to me than that one. I treasure this friend more than that one.

Everything we are conscious of, including mathematical theorems and defecation experiences, seems to be assigned a value.

A related question is, is there an absolute value (for anything) or are all values relative? In the latter case the value system of an individual could be represented as a partial ordering or a lattice.

A hot topic in condensed matter theory is networks where the nodes model human individuals and the links some kind of interaction. And some if these links have numbers assigned to them representing some kind of value (degree of trust between individuals, for example). It would be interesting to consider the mappings of such networks into the lattice of possible value relationships. what is the spectrum?

 

[R0man]

Value can be a complex and subjective concept, but at its core, it can be seen as the worth or importance that is placed on something. In the context of knowledge, as mentioned in the prompt, value can be seen as the usefulness or potential of that knowledge to accomplish a certain task or achieve a certain goal. However, as the prompt suggests, what if value is simply value? What if it doesn't need any external factors or purposes to determine its worth? In this sense, value can be seen as an inherent quality of something, independent of any assigned meaning or purpose.

This idea can also be applied to other aspects of life, such as relationships, experiences, and objects. We often assign value to these things based on their usefulness or significance in our lives. But what if the value of these things is simply their existence and the impact they have on us, regardless of any external factors? This perspective can lead to a deeper appreciation and acceptance of the things in our lives, without the pressure of needing them to serve a specific purpose or fulfill a certain expectation.

However, it's important to acknowledge that value can also be influenced by societal and cultural norms, personal beliefs, and individual experiences. So while value can be seen as an inherent quality, it can also be shaped and perceived in different ways. Ultimately, the concept of value is complex and multi-faceted, and it's up to each individual to determine what holds value for them.