Intrinsic Value vs Extrinsic Value

Alexis Fernandez

Professor Mobley

PHI2010

2 December 2013

Intrinsic Value vs Extrinsic Value

Technology today is always changing. Twenty something years ago when the first cell phone appeared in the film Wall Street (Kaufman), who would of thought then we can now be able to produce a whole film with a smartphone. America’s parents who were once taught with notes and pencils faced a very different educational culture than today’s 21st century digital learners, who aren’t required to memorize material yet navigate the abundant information found on the web. And if you speak to most elders today they’ll tell you prices were reasonable once, politicians were humble and children respected their elders. Without a doubt standards change throughout the course of time but some fundamental questions, like good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice remain the same. Philosophers rely on the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic value to answer such questions. Some such as William Frankena believe there are various intrinsic goods and others like John Dewey refute such an idea. However, I will argue there is at least one intrinsic value that exists.

Early on in our philosophy class we analyzed the scenario that of the trolley problem first introduced by Philippa Foot ( FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). The thought experiment presents the following issue: there is a trolley rushing along the railway track that can’t come to a halt. Five people are tied up and unable to move on the main track and only one individual stands on a side track. You have the ability to pull the lever and alter the direction of the trolley onto the side track or do nothing at all. If you pull the lever you would in essence be saving five lives yet taking the life of another. Many in the class agreed they would pull the lever and save the five individuals verses the one.

A more recent daily life example, can be that of the actions taken upon the passengers and crew members of...