Objective Value - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Objective Value, a concept at the heart of Value Theory, represents the proposition that value exists independently of individual perception or preference. Unlike subjective value, which fluctuates with personal opinion, objective value posits a stable, external standard of worth, sparking perpetual debate on its precise nature and origin. Often conflated with intrinsic value or moral realism, its existence challenges the notion that value is solely a human construct, prompting us to question the basis of our judgments.
The seeds of objective value can be traced back to ancient philosophical inquiries, with tentative roots found in Plato's theory of Forms circa 380 BC within The Republic. Though not explicitly termed "objective value," Plato’s Forms, particularly the Form of the Good, suggest an eternal and unchanging source of true value, independent of human understanding. This era, a crucible of burgeoning philosophical thought, witnessed Socrates' trial and execution – a stark reminder of the clash between individual conscience and perceived objective truth.
Throughout history, the interpretation of objective value has taken diverse forms. During the medieval period, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, grounding objective value in divine law, as detailed in Summa Theologica (1265-1274). The Enlightenment, however, brought forth challenges to established authority, igniting a search for secular foundations of objective morality in thinkers such as Immanuel Kant, who sought universal moral principles through reason itself in works such as Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785). What if objective value is not divinely mandated or rationalistically derived, but instead, a fundamental property of reality?
Today, objective value continues to be a battleground of philosophical discourse, informing discussions in ethics, economics, and aesthetics. Neuroscientific research investigates whether objective value is encoded within our brains, while environmental ethics wrestles with the objective value of nature. Do certain actions possess inherent worth irrespective of consequence? Can we truly separate our subjective experiences from our evaluations? The elusive nature of objective value ensures its continuing mystique, compelling us to consider whether a universally binding compass of worth truly exists, or if we are forever adrift in a sea of subjectivity.