Nick Szabo  🔑

It imagine you are choosing between two types of gasoline to fuel your car. There’s an objective measure of use-value (octanes per volume, or something like that). You can objectively say that one is X better than the other. But you should talk to a chemical engineer.

The value of the gasoline is still subjective, and depends on the subjective value you place on the car. What if I dont value my car? What if my goal is to blow up my engine? Subjectively I would value a different grade of gasoline than someone who values their car more.

Yes, my point is that a very narrow decision can be assessed in an objective way like this. But, as I said later, most times we have to deal with broader issues and subjectivity takes over. But there are some objective components in the decision nonetheless.

I can't think of an example of objective value. Even air and water is subjectively valued. If I dont want to live, I value neither.

To me it's pretty clear that there are objective components people take into account to form their subjective value judgments.

Oh I agree. There are scientific truths and realities in this world, that we use to make our decisions. But value is different. Can you tell me one example of objective values, where every person would not only value it, but value it equally, as to be objective.

The not very polite example I use is: I can choose between sandpaper or toilet paper to wipe off my ass. The second objectively better suits my needs versus the first one due to its intrinsic properties (nothing to do with intrinsic value, though!).

Your needs. Read definition above.