Exploring Possibilities, Evolutionary Accidents, and the Distinction Between Prowess and Normative Value

Ray Jackendoff visits Google to discuss "The Peculiar Logic of Value", which centers on how humans conceptualize systems of value. 

Jackendoff hypothesizes that value is conceptualized as an abstract property attributed to objects, persons, and actions. There are several distinct types of value - Affective value, or “does it feel good or bad?” Utility, or “is it good for me?”; Prowess, or “is someone good at doing something”; Normative value, or “is it good of someone to do something?”; Personal Normative value, or “is someone a good person?”; and Esteem, or “does someone have a good reputation?”. Each of these kinds of value plays a different role in the ecology of our value systems.

Ray Jackendoff is a Professor of Philosophy and the Codirector of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. He is the author of many books, including "Foundations of Language”.

Originally published in August of 2007.

Visit Youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.