Why is Every Difference a Value Difference

It just is.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• difference
• value
• spencer brown
• laws of form
• evolution

[DanaGarrett]

The difference between green and brown is a value difference? The difference between the hardness and softness of two objects is a value difference? Really?

[conferencereport]

@DanaGarrett I'm suggesting that the origins of perceptible differences (there are many which are not perceptible) possibly lies in differences in value. So yes, to the extent that the ability to process the light reflected by certain objects into those things we call 'colours' correlates with the opportunities and threats suggested by those certain objects, the difference between green and brown is a value difference.

[zarkoff45]

Grappling with ignorance is who does the hood thing.

[conferencereport]

@zarkoff45 That's the fella, thanks.

[TheAzov]

The difference between sexes is of course related to survival and "reproductive success," but the sexual difference itself is not a value judgment.  Choosing between partners is.

[borgduck]

AAAAAAAAAA!!! The Grim Reaper!!

[Contextcatcher]

Lost in Transformation: have identical 'things', instead of being a different phenomena, a qualtiy? Connections or association must be also valuable: a recognizable identity or quality. And to recognize we must compare and equalize...

Some thoughts after a day work.

[Contextcatcher]

.'Anyway': to have a valuable identity is making a difference important. Act of copying is not a real valuable... But how about matter...mass? Combination of 'whatever' what is making a difference...

Perception of values: how do we identify the differences? Language can help making distinctions...

Language is an ambivalent tool.

[Contextcatcher]

There is also a parallel with Deririda's "Différance" meaning: "difference" but also "delay"... The classical dialectic method isn't far away: always searching for the opposite is making a difference. Obvious: Idea of value and difference have a opposite meaning in equalize things. Equalizing too much is making things indifference: loosing value. Language (giving names, generalizing, scheme etc) is often making us blind.

Again your natural peripatetic way of thinking is very stimulating. 

[Rubbaduk1]

Evolutionary teleology with Darth Fred... Haha.

[esaman]

having ability to distinguish any features comes from benefit to reproductive success, but not everything that has those features has value. Also distinguishing something by itself isn't alway a value judgment, and value is judged based on context.