A Distinction in Value - Intrinsic and For Its Own Sake
Author
Editor
- Toni Rønnow-Rasmussen
- Michael Zimmerman
Summary, in English
The paper argues that the final value of an object, i.e., its value for its own sake, need not be intrinsic. It need not supervene on the object’s internal properties. Extrinsic final value, which accrues to things (or persons) in virtue of their relational features, cannot be traced back to the intrinsic value of states that involve these things together with their relations. On the opposite, such states, insofar as they are valuable at all, derive their value from the things involved. The endeavour to reduce thing-values to state-values is largely motivated by a mistaken belief that appropriate responses to value must consist in preferring and/or promoting. A pluralist approach to value analysis obviates the need for reduction: the final value of a thing or a person can be given an independent interpretation in terms of the appropriate thing- or person-oriented responses: admiration, love, respect, protection, cherishing, etc.
Department/s
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
115-130
Publication/Series
Recent Work on Intrinsic Value
Full text
Document type
Book chapter
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Philosophy
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 9781402034857