Value (n.) The worth of a thing is defined as its value. And that which you find worthy defines your values.

But pray tell, how and who measures said value(s)?

Latin valere, or its derivative valour, calls us to “be strong, be well, and be of worth;” and Old Norse valdor means “ruler.” Certainly, there is a blurring of the lines between the worth of something or someone, and a moral definition of said worth. A King’s value is akin to God, and his treasure of gold stand as a justified testament to such. And drug kingpin lording the street corner with chains of bling adorning his neck stands as lord over his dominion.

The word value holds within its fractal meanders the vast spectre of oppression and abuse exacted by humans against humans in an endless cycle of covetous and competitive aspirations that have built our villages and cities and have torn them to shreds at the same time.

This is a profound and pervasive linguistic slippery slope upon which we measure the worth of our labour and more insidiously, our own personal worth and value. And as we touched upon above, the boundaries of moral ascriptions are intrinsically woven to this value system.

This directly defines our laws and the measure of punishment we dole out for any challenge to the accepted value system.

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