The Phenomenon of Value Capture
Implications for Robert S. Hartman's Axiology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67945/jfa.v17i1.8Keywords:
value capture, formal axiology, Robert S. HartmanAbstract
Drawing on philosopher C. Thi Nguyen's concept of "value capture," the process by which rich, nuanced values are replaced by simplified, often quantified measures that come to guide our judgments and actions, this article explores how such reductions distort human experience and undermine axiological understanding. It illustrates the phenomenon through examples ranging from celebrity "Q-Scores" and social media "likes" to legal definitions surrounding reproductive health, showing how narrowing frameworks can eclipse the fuller values at stake. The article connects Nguyen's analysis to Robert S. Hartman's formal axiology, arguing that value capture occurs when systemic and extrinsic modes of valuation override the intrinsic dimension, in which "concept fulfillment" and genuine goodness become possible. Extending the discussion to language, quantification, personality diagnosis, and religious life, it contends that resisting value capture offers a path back to richer, more authentic valuing and demonstrates the continuing relevance of Hartman's axiology for understanding contemporary cultural life.
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