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Single Idea 18679

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / a. Nature of value ]

Full Idea

If a certain object is valuable, then something other than its being valuable must make it so. ...One is always in principle entitled to an answer as to why it is good or bad.

Gist of Idea

Things are only valuable if something makes it valuable, and we can ask for the reason

Source

Francesco Orsi (Value Theory [2015], 5.2)

Book Ref

Orsi,Francesco: 'Value Theory' [Bloomsbury 2015], p.81


A Reaction

What Orsi calls the 'chemistry' of value. I am inclined to think that this is the key to a philosophical study of value. Without this assumption the values float free, and we drift into idealised waffle. Note that here he only refers to 'objects'.


The 24 ideas with the same theme [what is desirability or worth in something?]:

For Aristotle 'good' means purpose, and value is real but relational [Achtenberg on Aristotle]
Prime values apply to the life in agreement; useful values apply to the natural life [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values [Kekes on Kant]
Values need a perspective, of preserving some aspect of life [Nietzsche]
Value is held to be either a quality, or a relation (usually between a thing and a mind) [Ross]
The arguments for value being an objective or a relation fail, so it appears to be a quality [Ross]
There are no values to justify us, and no excuses [Sartre]
Values don't accumulate; they are ruthlessly replaced [Cioran]
Altruistic values concern other persons, and ceremonial values concern practices [Quine]
The base for values has grounds, catalysts and intensifiers [Dancy,J, by Orsi]
There are far more values than we can pursue, so they are optional possibilities [Kekes]
We are bound to regret some values we never aspired to [Kekes]
Innumerable values arise for us, from our humanity, our culture, and our individuality [Kekes]
Cultural values are interpretations of humanity, conduct, institutions, and evaluations [Kekes]
The big value problems are evil (humanity), disenchantment (cultures), and boredom (individuals) [Kekes]
Is valuing something a matter of believing or a matter of desiring? [Smith,M]
Value-maker concepts (such as courageous or elegant) simultaneously describe and evaluate [Orsi]
The '-able' concepts (like enviable) say this thing deserves a particular response [Orsi]
Things are only valuable if something makes it valuable, and we can ask for the reason [Orsi]
A complex value is not just the sum of the values of the parts [Orsi]
Trichotomy Thesis: comparable values must be better, worse or the same [Orsi]
Final value is favoured for its own sake, and personal value for someone's sake [Orsi]
The Fitting Attitude view says values are fitting or reasonable, and values are just byproducts [Orsi]
We can treat value as a verb; we value something when we positively engage with it [Cochrane]