Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value is traditionally understood to be the value a thing has in virtue of its own nature, or its own intrinsic properties. Thus, a thing has intrinsic value “in itself” or “for its own sake” or “in its own right.” This implies that intrinsic value is “nonderivative” or “nonrelational” since things that have intrinsic value do not have it because of their relation to other things. For example, many writers argue that pleasure is intrinsically valuable because pleasure is good in itself and not because of its relation to something else. Other things sometimes said to be intrinsically valuable are, for example, happiness, virtuous acts, knowledge, or experiences of beauty, friendship, or love. Contrasted with intrinsic value is extrinsic value, which is the value ...