What’s it Worth? Values, Choice and Commodification - Professor the Lord Plant of Highfield

Summary: In this lecture I shall look more directly at the idea which has been central to the others - namely that in fact it is not possible to see markets as a morally free zone. However, it is one thing to establish this, but it is quite another to provide a good explanation of how such values can be understood and justified. If values are subjective can there be anything that can legitimately restrict choice and the transformation of values into market values? In a market based society can we make sense of intrinsic values - the values which are to be seen as independent of choice - or are all values just a matter of subjective commitment? If so, is there any reason for thinking that certain types of goods should not be bought and sold? All our lectures are available for free download from the Gresham College website, in video, audio or text formats: http://www.gresham.ac.uk Gresham College professors and guest speakers have been giving free public lectures in central London since 1597. This tradition continues today and you can attend any of our lectures, or watch or listen to them on our website. Website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/GreshamCollege Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gresham-College/14011689941