Serena Aeschilman

BUS 1050 Spring Semester 2017

Instructor George Smith

April 28, 2017

My Renaissance

My renaissance from this class sprung from how perspective truly matters, especially

when analyzing how individuals value goods. From the readings in this class, we learned how

many individuals value certain goods; they can be materialistically, sentimentally, or

purposefully valued. Throughout history, and even today, useless goods are often valued more

depending on the name attached to the goods. Society has inflated materialistic value while the

innovation of new technologies has rendered many objects useless. Alternatively, the objects that

oftentimes serves the greatest value are objects that are priced the cheapest. Societal trends

towards objects also change over time and leave the consumer with the urge to buy more based

on their perspective of the value of the good.

Materialistically, goods can be valued at different prices. There are objects that are

perceived as expensive, simply because everyone else in society values the object at that price.

Some individuals may not find the investment in the item worthwhile; men devote themselves

to the acquisition of wealth (Freud, 1968). Alternatively, others may find the investment

beneficial as it will impact how others perceive them as persons grow insensibly attached to that

which gives them a great deal of trouble(Mackey, 1841). Even though these goods are

perceived as luxuries and have many alternative affordable goods, the brand name associated

with the product drives up the price. The idea of containing an object that others may not be able
to afford are the goods that bring many individuals pleasure, driving up the cost to make these

individuals feel superior; as Henry David Thoreau once said, the mass of men lead lives of quiet

desperation (Thoreau, 1854), This materialistic concept is created by society. Certain

individuals valuing the good, leads to a chain reaction of others valuing it even more than

necessary. Much of the population will go to great complex of ownerships of different values

and consequences (Wells, 1922). Cultural aspects also affect how materialistic goods are

perceived because different cultures value different brands or pricing differently. Cultures differ

in different societies, which can lead to contradiction when determining materialistic values

between two different cultures. Of course, there are other ways to attach value to goods which

two cultures may agree upon.

Sentimentally, each good has a unique value to the individual. Memories are oftentimes

associated with some goods and can create a different sentimental value. Thus, these objects are

priced more or less to the individual than the average person would perceive. This value is not

monetarily measured but rather measured by the individual's affection. Furthermore, these

sentimental values cannot be judged by society, as each value is specifically tailored to the

individual who owns the good. Every individual is attached to at least one good in society, which

shows that society finds it acceptable to value objects sentimentally. Culturally, sentimental

goods can have more value than anything, due to spiritual attachments. If a certain individual had

a fond memory of an object, many cultures believed that it should be saved and worshipped,

regardless of what other cultures might say. However, sentimental value is not the only area

where cultures differ.

 Purposeful value refers to the basic usage of a good. In other words, the ability of these

goods to be used matches the quality of the good. A hammer is often used to hammer nails into

two substances to hold them together. A hammer has a duty, and a hammer that sits around

without doing its duty is useless. Furthermore, good hammers should do their job well, especially

depending on the price paid for the hammer. If the hammer is not working well, then it is useless

and has lost its value. Society has some effect on purposeful values, as society creates the idea of

what an object should do. If the good does not live up to expectations, it is not beneficial, making

the good useless. Cultures have different uses for different objects; for example, one culture may

use the hammer for hammering while another culture may use it for a different purpose, such as

removing nails from the wall or dismembering the object. Fortunately, most goods serve the

same purpose, and that is to be used.

My renaissance was the change in mindset of how perspective truly matters, especially

when analyzing how individuals value goods. There are three major ways to value goods, which

are materialistically, sentimentally, and purposefully. These values are often affected by society,

leading the individual to have a skewed mindset of how to value goods. Societies can also

change with culture, proving once again that perspective does matter when analyzing the values

of goods. With the readings that were required in the curriculum, discussions in class, and my

own school of thought, I have come to the realization that perspective is necessary to consider,

especially in this day and age where society controls all as a social organism (Spencer, 1860).
 Bibliography:

1. Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. The standard edition of the complete

000000psychological works of Sigmund Freud. Vol. 21. London, 1968. Print

2. Mackey, Charles. The Tulipomania. 2nd ed. N.p.: London: Office of the National

000000Illustrated Library, 1841. Print.

3. Spencer, Herbert. THE SOCIAL ORGANISM N.p.: The Westminster Review for

000000January, 1860. Print.

4. Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. 8th ed. N.p.: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1954. Print.

5. Wells, HG. A Short History of the World. N.p.: Penguin , 1922. Print.