Intrinsic value
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The real value of something, calculated with regard to an inherent, objective measure, which may not take into account its market value or face value. countable, uncountable
- 2 Non-relational or non-instrumental value, or the value something has in itself, for its own sake, or as such. countable, uncountable
"Let me start then, by distinguishing two concepts of intrinsic value. On the one hand, we have the notion of the value that an object has independently of all other objects— the value that an object has in itself. Philosophers sometimes try to get at this kind of value by suggesting that it is the value that an object would have even if it were the only thing existing in the universe. Although this suggestion is not without its difficulties, it points us towards the basic idea that value of this sort must depend solely upon the intrinsic — that is, roughly, nonrelational — properties of the object…This first notion of intrinsic value should be distinguished from a second concept, that of the value that an object has “as an end.” […]"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"Let me start then, by distinguishing two concepts of intrinsic value. On the one hand, we have the notion of the value that an object has independently of all other objects— the value that an object has in itself. Philosophers sometimes try to get at this kind of value by suggesting that it is the value that an object would have even if it were the only thing existing in the universe. Although this suggestion is not without its difficulties, it points us towards the basic idea that value of this sort must depend solely upon the intrinsic — that is, roughly, nonrelational — properties of the object…This first notion of intrinsic value should be distinguished from a second concept, that of the value that an object has “as an end.” […]"