What is a person?

[Violet]

Well let's start with value and worth then. Firstly, value is intrisically subjective. Worth would be a broadermore generally accepted societal value.

Actually... worth is almost equivalent to value (the only real difference being the sense in which the word is used... value being primarily used as a noun... and worth being primarily used as an adjective to describe how much a thing is valued). And a 'generally accepted societal value' is just as subjective as an individual's understanding of the value... one being subjective to the typical member of society (as the value of all things remains an individual's understanding... even when the focus is expanded to a group of individuals. Though these individuals likely differ in opinion as to how much a thing is worth... a seller might attempt to find a price that most of the society is willing to spend, whilst maximizing their profits... and indeed the most typical (mode) opinion of worth will likely be reflected by everything one might generalize about a society (though of course: not necessarily ^_<)), the other being subjective to an individual.

Example:
You see no value in the $5 in my pocket because it's not yours and you don't intend to steal it. I see lots of value in my 5$ beause I'mbuying breakfast with it. You and I agree that the worth of the object titled $5 has an exchange rate for goods of roughly equal proportions.

There is more value to the world than that which is held yourself Say that I have 2 enemies, and 2 of us are attacking the third enemy at once. Whilst they are not my armies, and I do not intend to go into combat with them today... i nevertheless value them as something to be wary of, and as bodies to weaken my enemy.

To return to the $5 in your pocket... you might buy something with that... and hence: even if I do not value its status as a device through which I might buy things... I might still value it in consideration of what you might buy. With those $5, you could do a number of interesting things... and by anticipating what you will do with those $5: they might have easily become far more valuable to me for you to possess than having them in my pocket myself.

Further... that you and I agree to a similar (though likely not equal) exchange rate for those $5 probably reflects our society's common understanding of the exchange rate. However, it remains a subjective understanding... for the caveman sees little to no value in the $5... and even within our society there is great variance for the worth of $5.

So the question should be What is the worth of a person?

To me? Depends on the person That is rather a good question you pose... but to understand that, wouldn't we need to know what a person was first? ^_^

I'll go ahead and answer with my opinion and then we'll compare. Worth for me is determined primarily by usefullness and function.

Usefulness and function aren't all so different when understanding a thing's worth to a girl... is it not from its function that usefulness is considered? Anyway... I have a major difference regarding value... that being location and time it will be there. It's all well and good to have 8 septillion USD... but what does it matter to have all of that when you are stranded by yourself on a desert island, with no method of ever leaving again? Further... it is wonderful to have 8 septillion USD... but what will it matter if you receive it after you die (assuming no 'will' or living relatives)?

Of course... the function of a thing is also important when calculating its value. It might be nice to have something available to you at your place and time... it probably won't be nice to have that something be 5 men hired and equipped to assassinate you.

A person is worth the usefullness and productivity they contribute to everyone outside themselves. That can be as simmple as making people smile or saving the planet from destruction.

A person's worth is the summation of all their attributes and their usefulness to you according to the function you would have them used for. Their location, time they are there (and for how long they will be there), who they are, what platform they reside within/upon/whatever, how they will accomplish a task to which they have been assigned, their reputation, etc... people are fascinating creatures to observe and manipulate... and often one might consider them to be worth a certain amount ± 'unknown packaging'

I agree in some senses with you... though my definition of a person's worth is much broader. Perhaps it is not so difficult to understand why it is difficult for me to pinpoint precisely what a 'person is'

The personal value for me would then be dependant on what needs I have to be fufilled by other (love, companionship, quality goods, humor) people in whatever area the person is productive in.

I can understand that... my understanding of value includes far more variables, however