Value System
Analysis | Diagrams | Thinkers
Do you know what your really value and why? If you can't define what you value, how will you know you are on the path to success?
Purpose
The creation of value begins with conscious definition of what it is - what we focus our attention on grows, what we ignore erodes.
In an era where blockchain enables direct tokenization of assets, experiences, and virtues how do we bridge objective quantification and subjective meaning, providing tools to align actions with values while preparing for a post-monetary economy.
Consensus
Effective societies are fueled by Goodwill. Goodwill is built on Trust. Consensus on The Truth is foundational to building Trust.
Principles
- Community as Foundation: Happiness and prosperity emerge from trusted connections, not isolated metrics.
- Wisdom for the Pain: Closed feedback loops (intention → action → measurement → reflection) refine value creation but require human context. Learning comes from fast experiments, need lower cost/risk way to gain from experience.
- Hybrid Valuation: All value exists on a spectrum between objective measurement and subjective experience.
- Benchmarking as Compass: Continuously compare processes and outcomes against world-class standards while maintaining cultural integrity
Value Dimensions
| Dimension | Objective - Quantifiable | Subjective - Qualitative |
|---|---|---|
| Intrinsic | Life expectancy | Sense of purpose |
| (Ends in themselves) | Caloric intake | Emotional fulfillment |
| Extrinsic | Market price of real estate | Cultural significance of land |
| (Means to ends) | Compute power (TFLOPS) | Aesthetic value of digital art |
| Virtues | Consistency in honest actions | Perceived integrity |
| Experiences | Hours spent learning | Depth of insight gained |
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Value
Intrinsic
- Qualities: Non-instrumental, self-justifying
- Examples: Human dignity, biodiversity, creative expression
- Measurement:
- Objective: Lifespan, biodiversity indexes
- Subjective: Wellbeing surveys, narrative portfolios
Extrinsic
- Qualities: Derivative, context-dependent
- Examples: Money, social status, tool utility
- Measurement:
- Objective: Market capitalization, efficiency metrics
- Subjective: Network effects, brand loyalty
Standards
Standard Benchmarks: The problem with one-off jobs is that you don't have experience to judge expectations, this is where a global ledger of expectations would help to fix that. The key principles of the value of benchmarking:
- Predictable Risk vs Reward:
- Drives Organizational Success: Benchmarking is a crucial element in building and maintaining a successful organization.
- Identifies Areas for Improvement: It helps pinpoint areas where a company can improve its processes and performance.
- Facilitates Continuous Improvement: Benchmarking is a key input to continuous improvement efforts.
- Enables Comparison to Best Practices: It involves comparing a company's performance to industry bests or best practices.
Consensus
Alignment of interests around a shared sense of purpose and coordinate intentions is the hardest yet most critical element for making meaningful progress in anything.
Consensus drives standards through adoption.
Data and Intelligence
Reference, system generated, and synthetic data.
Asset Taxonomy
1. Tangible Assets
| Category | Objective Metric | Subjective Value Layer |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | Square footage, location | Historical/cultural meaning |
| Energy | kWh produced | Ethical sourcing perception |
| Human Body | Biological health metrics | Self-image/body positivity |
2. Intangible Assets
| Category | Quantifiable Aspect | Qualitative Dimension |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation | zScore trust metrics | Community standing |
| Knowledge | Patents/citations | Tacit expertise |
| Attention | Screen time metrics | Depth of engagement |
3. Financial Instruments
| Type | Objective Value | Subjective Risk Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Stablecoins | Pegged currency reserves | Perceived regulatory safety |
| DAO Shares | Voting power % | Community influence |
4. Human Values
| Value | Quantifiable Proxy | Qualitative Essence |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Proof of Personhood | Being human |
| Privacy | Data encryption strength | Sense of autonomy |
| Truth | Information verification | Authenticity in relationships |
Measurement Protocols
Quantitative Evaluation
- Financial Assets: On-chain transaction history, liquidity pools
- Human Capital: Skill credentials (PoE tokens), health biomarkers
- Ecological Value: Carbon sequestration metrics, biodiversity indexes
Qualitative Evaluation
- Deliberative DAOs: Community attestations for reputation scoring
- Value Oracles: Context-aware AI analyzing emotional resonance in art/NFTs
- Narrative Ledgers: Immutable journals tracking personal growth journeys
Governance & Ethics
- Anti-Reductionism Clauses:
- 1 human life ≠ X ETH conversion formulas
- Cultural artifacts can't be fully tokenized without community consent
- Bias Audits: Regular checks on AI valuation models (e.g., zScore neural nets)
- Data Sovereignty: Zero-knowledge proofs for personal value portfolios
Transition Beyond Money
As tokenization accelerates:
- Direct Exchange Protocols: Land ↔ Solar Credits ↔ Medical Expertise
- Value Stacking: Bundle IP rights with mentorship hours in smart contracts
- Reputation-Backed Loans: Borrow against community trust scores vs. collateral
Context
- Money: A proxy for material assets, knowledge and goodwill
- Business: The transformation and exchange of value
- Investing: Prediction of where value will accrue
- Tokenization: The future of measuring and exchanging value.