"This painting is worth a million yen."
Haru was surprised reading the museum placard.
"Who decided that price?"
Simon answered from beside her. "The market. Supply and demand balance."
"But to me it just looks like scribbles."
Noa quietly approached. "Maybe there are types of value."
"Types?" Haru turned around.
"Economic value, aesthetic value, and personal value." Noa gazed at the painting.
Simon supplemented. "Western philosophy also distinguishes intrinsic and instrumental value."
"Intrinsic?"
"Something valuable in itself. Instrumental value is value as means to something else."
Haru thought. "So this painting's value is?"
"Different for each viewer," Noa said. "For collectors, an investment. For artists, a source of learning. For me, something that moves the heart."
"Are all of those correct?"
Simon nodded. "Value pluralism. Multiple values coexist in one thing."
Haru wrote in her notebook. "So there's no 'true value'?"
"Some positions say there is," Noa answered. "Plato believed in Beauty as an Idea."
"Perfect beauty exists somewhere?"
"That kind of thinking. Real beauty is its imperfect reflection."
Simon countered. "But standards of beauty differ across cultures. Some say universal beauty doesn't exist."
"Cultural relativism?" Haru said.
"Yes. Values are constructed within society and culture."
Noa pointed at another painting. "Which of these two is more beautiful?"
Haru looked troubled. "Can't compare them. It's a matter of taste."
"But experts rank them," Simon said.
"Is an expert's judgment above personal preference?"
"It's a question of authority," Noa said gently. "Expertise can provide grounds for value judgments."
"If there are grounds, is it objective?"
"To some extent. But complete objectivity is difficult."
Simon organized. "Value judgments mix subjective and objective elements."
Haru asked. "So who decides, in the end?"
"Everyone," Noa smiled. "The market, experts, individuals. Each casts a vote."
"A vote?"
"Paying money, evaluating with words, feeling with your heart—all are votes."
Simon added. "But votes carry different weight. The rich vote heavily, the poor lightly."
"That's unfair," Haru said.
"That's why market value isn't the only value," Noa said. "What your heart feels is also real value."
Haru looked at the painting again. "To me, this painting has no value."
"That's also a judgment," Simon acknowledged.
"But I want to understand why others find value in it."
Noa said kindly. "That's the beginning of dialogue. Value is shared and transformed through dialogue."
"Who decides value?" Haru murmured. "I haven't found the answer."
"Maybe we never will," Simon said. "But there's value in continuing to ask."
The three left the museum. The question about value continues.