1. Outstanding characteristic or function associated with something about its origin, that is, that it is part of a natural or internal way.
2. Anatomy. That it begins or that happens in the internal constitution of the body.
3. Physics. Relating to a pure semiconductor.
Etymology: by latin intrinsicusoriginally as an adverb, referring to ‘inside’, ‘interior’, extending to an adjective sense, as ‘intimate’, ‘deep’, ‘proper’, based on the prefix intra-of withinfor ‘interior’, and the preposition secusas ‘together’, ‘next to’.
Grammatical category: Adjective.
in syllables: in-trin-se-co.
Intrinsic
Intrinsic is that which is essential to something. The opposite of the intrinsic is the extrinsic, that is, those elements that are not essential and genuine of something. Heat is intrinsic to the sun and the same is true of whiteness in relation to snow or desire in relation to love.
The idea of intrinsic can be used in economics, philosophy or in relation to the human being and in all three contexts the concept of intrinsic value is spoken of.
in economics
Intrinsic value in economics is applied to the actions of an entity. It is not an accounting concept but an economic one. It is a subjective value but of great importance to value a stock market business. To calculate the intrinsic value of a share, the Discount Cash Flow (DCF) method is primarily used, which consists of estimating foreseeable earnings and discounting interest to find its present value. The concept of intrinsic value of some actions is used to measure something intangible and imprecise. such as a business model or an entity’s patents. In opposition to this concept another one is used, the market value of a share, which is the price that someone is willing to pay.
in philosophy
Some philosophical currents establish the difference between the extrinsic and the intrinsic. The extrinsic is not characteristic of something and the intrinsic is. This distinction is useful for understanding the properties of certain concepts. Thus, the intrinsic principle of something is what defines it, its substantial element and without which it could not exist. On the contrary, the extrinsic principle or value of a concept has an accidental and secondary character.
Throughout the history of human thought, philosophers have reflected on what is intrinsic to nature, human reason, will or love. The reason for this type of reflection is obvious: to discover what is genuine and authentic in order to differentiate it from what is superfluous or accessory. In other words, philosophers seek the fundamental, that without which the rest could not exist.
In the human being
What gives us value as human beings is not what we can buy or desire, but the aspects of the human condition that define us as individuals, also known as intrinsic values. Somehow these values are what make us people, like freedom, dignity or honor. Let’s illustrate this idea with a concrete example: a man who goes with a woman to show her to others because of her beauty. In this case, the man’s attitude towards the woman is based on her extrinsic value and not on what the woman is as an individual.
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