Theories and opinions of value

The aim of this paper is to open again the discussion on the social function of Appraisal, as nowadays are quite noticeable the negative effects on the communities’ wellbeing caused by a systematic and prearranged trend towards a strong restriction of its task, up to deny, in some considerable occasions, the dignity of autonomous Science, which should play an important role for ensuring the fulfilment of a only goal: the economic justice. In order to explain this character of Appraisal, the first part of this contribution focuses on the description of some special and still relevant terms and concepts, that could be considered as different kind of value. In a certain way, these notions must be considered as real postulates derived from Economics. Inside the fundamental classification of value in its four main economic meanings (use value, esteem value, exchange value, cost value), it’s possible to find the sub-variation of the exchange value and the different meanings of the other ones. In order to avoid misunderstandings these last concepts, logically independent, must be kept quite separate from each others. This synthesis points out the strong relationship between Appraisal and Economics. In order to identify and assess value, Appraisal refers to Economics as this subject investigates the character of value and the process by which it could be determined. In this way the main theoretical issues are immediately solved. Starting from the idea that the occupation of an entire field of interest of Economics cannot be considered as unimportant as only the Appraisal allows to acknowledge the opinions of value and the method to express it, the second part of the paper deals with the problems that the Appraisal must be able to solve. At this level, it will be put in evidence the importance of its theory of value and its specific postulates with a special reference to the theory of ordinariness.