Is Time Really Worth Trading for Money?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the value of time in relation to money, exploring philosophical and practical perspectives on whether time should be commodified. Participants reflect on the implications of trading time for wages, the nature of worth, and the existential significance of time in human life.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that putting a price on time diminishes its intrinsic value, suggesting that a wage reflects only external worth rather than personal worth.
  • Others highlight that not all work is compensated by time, noting variations in payment structures such as salaries, commissions, and piece work.
  • A recurring theme is the idea that life itself is precious, with time being valuable primarily in relation to human existence.
  • Some express a disdain for the notion that "time is money," suggesting it reduces the richness of life to mere economic transactions.
  • One participant emphasizes the irreversible nature of time, contrasting it with money, which can be regained or lost.
  • There are conflicting views on humanity's value, with some questioning the worth of human life while others assert the unique potential of humans to appreciate beauty and contribute positively to the world.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the relationship between time and money, with no clear consensus reached. Some agree on the preciousness of life and time, while others challenge the value of humanity itself.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include various assumptions about the nature of worth, the implications of different economic systems, and subjective interpretations of life’s value. The conversation remains open-ended regarding the philosophical implications of these views.

plum
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Why would anyone want to put a price on their time? Once you sell it, you can't buy it back. A wage or salary represents only what you are worth to someone else, and society in general- never what you are worth to yourself.

Just a thought.
 
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plum said:
Why would anyone want to put a price on their time? Once you sell it, you can't buy it back. A wage or salary represents only what you are worth to someone else, and society in general- never what you are worth to yourself.

Just a thought.

Instead of saying time is precious, I would say that we are precious. Time only being precious in how it relates to potentially mortal beings.
 
Time and money

Not all get paid by the time they use during work. Some get paid fixed salaries and others get paid by comission or piece work.

In order to survive in the modern world you have to work and most of that is usually based on the amount of time you put in for an exchange of money.


In less developed countries some still survive off the land by hunting and farming but these activities still require a certain amount of effort and time.
 
mee said:
Instead of saying time is precious, I would say that we are precious. Time only being precious in how it relates to potentially mortal beings.

Life is precious.
 
plum said:
Why would anyone want to put a price on their time? Once you sell it, you can't buy it back. A wage or salary represents only what you are worth to someone else, and society in general- never what you are worth to yourself.

Just a thought.

Everybody's got to eat, and eating each other just doesn't sound all that appealing to me.
 
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.
 
mee said:
Instead of saying time is precious, I would say that we are precious. Time only being precious in how it relates to potentially mortal beings.


You got to be joking.In what way we are precious?World would be much better off without us.
Time is money-I hate this.
 
Smurf said:
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have.

The statement is fine just like this without the fancy convoluted crap on the end. :smile:
 
tumor said:
You got to be joking.In what way we are precious?World would be much better off without us.
Time is money-I hate this.

Speak for yourself, the world may be better without you, but I know my presence here allows for greater possibility then simple plant or animal life.

Would the Earth be better without us? It would be nothing. Who would be there to enjoy a sunrise, or the soft, cool morning breeze. What would beauty mean to a tree, or a badger? Or do you mean Earth would be better without any life at all? What would beauty mean to a rock?

Humanity DOES have marvelous potential, for both good and bad. If you see only the bad side of us, then I pity you.
 
  • #10
plum does have a point. Time, unlike money, can never reverse itself. One can easily gain or lose money, but once time is gone, it won't come back. Id much rather spend my life using my time wisely rather than allocating all my time for the sole purpose of making money, because if I did that, I would probably be miserable (but stinkin' rich).
 

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