[damptowel]

Relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformation_problem

I assume the only objective way to calculate value would be to see the planet as a dynamic system, put a baseline price on energy and do some kind of thermodynamic accounting of every transformation process in the chain, basically energy expense bookkeeping. I'm aware there's some theories about this, but I never looked into any of it.

[igf]

Which still has nothing to do with value, which is why I value more highly a Stradivarius violin than the pile of ashes which you could obtain by burning a Stradivarius violin.