The idea of what “value” is has been changing as civilization develops.
We started with “use value”: something is valuable only based on its use. A jacket has value when it’s cold due to its ability to protect us from cold.
As things got better for us as human beings, we created “exchange value”: things are valuable in a given exchange. For instance, money can be exchanged for something that has use value, like food.
Eventually, we got so comfortable that we were able to create “symbolic value.” These are things that have no use value or are even exchanged but have emotional importance.
If I pick up a flower for my girlfriend because I was thinking about her on my way home and give it to her, the flower has no use value and cannot be exchanged and yet, it’s important to her, right?
Finally, we came up with the idea of “sign value”. Suddenly, the value of something is bestowed on it according to what it says about you.
Think about using a watch for a luxury brand. Any watch fulfills the same function and yet, using a Patek Philippe will communicate something about me very different from a Swatch watch.
Now, here’s the thing.
Are we done? Have we found all the value there is to find?
Or is there something next?
I don’t know. But I think there’s more to this theme and I can’t wait to see what human beings come up with.