Value Theory and Energy

diminishing marginal utility The desire for one additionalunit declines with successive units of the good.embodied energy The direct and indirect energy requiredto produce a good or service.evolution In natural systems it has three components: (i)generation of genetic variation by random mutations orsexual recombination, (ii) natural selection by relativereproductive success, and (iii) transmission via informa-tion stored in the genes.valuation The process of assessing the contribution of aparticular object or action to meeting a particular goal,whether or not that contribution is fully perceived bythe individual.value The contribution of an object or action to specificgoals, objectives, or conditions.value systems Intrapsychic constellations of norms andprecepts that guide human judgment and action. Theyrefer to the normative and moral frameworks people useto assign importance and necessity to their beliefs andactions.