General Theory of Value: Its Meaning and Basic Principles Construed in Terms of Interest

"General Theory of Value: Its Meaning and Basic Principles Construed in Terms of Interest" is a seminal work in American philosophy and a foundational text in the field of axiology. Written by the distinguished philosopher Ralph Barton Perry, this treatise seeks to provide a comprehensive and systematic definition of value by rooting it in the psychological concept of interest. Perry argues that value is not an inherent property of objects but is instead defined by the relationship between a subject and an object, famously positing that any thing has value when it is the object of an interest.

The work meticulously explores the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of interest, offering a naturalistic perspective that bridged the gap between traditional ethics and the emerging behavioral sciences of the early twentieth century. By examining the basic principles of valuation across various domains-including morality, art, and religion-Perry provides a unified framework for understanding human desire and choice. This volume remains an essential reference for scholars of ethics, metaphysics, and the history of modern philosophy, representing one of the most significant attempts to construct a rigorous and objective theory of the subjective nature of worth.

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