An intrinsic value is: “A value that has
value in itself. It is an end in itself,” or it is: “A value not derived from
another type of value, which may be moral.”
What is intrinsically good from the
outside is good, not so much in terms of its intrinsic value in itself, but for
something else to which it is connected in some way. For example, the good of
helping others in times of need is considered intrinsic (at least partially),
derived (at least partially) from the good of something else, such as
satisfying those people’s needs or enjoying the experience of doing so. The
connection here is causal. Is money an intrinsic value? Many believe that money
is not an intrinsic value. So why do we care about money? Well, money allows us
to do things like buy a car or buy food. Buying a car might give us
independence; buying food gives us sustenance and enjoyment. But imagine we
were in a hyperinflationary economy where you literally couldn't use money for
anything; it would essentially become paper, and we couldn't get anything we
wanted from it. It's believed that in this situation, most people would say it
has no real value. Therefore, it's said that money has no intrinsic value
because it doesn't buy anything in a hyperinflationary economy.
Beauty, goodness, moderation, courage,
artistic expression, happiness, and so on, are intrinsic values because they
exist within a being in and of itself; that is, they are the defining
characteristics of that being. They are specific behavioral patterns whose
application is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. Moral and
personal qualities are what help an individual reach their goal.
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