What is the worth of a pound of flesh?
Well, if you have done a google search today, what is the most valuable thing you can possess, and it will come as The History Supreme Yacht 4.6 billion dollars. And this is the most likely answer when we consider dollars. Or it could be a B2 bomber aircraft which could carry nuclear weapons. However, as value is subjective if we consider individual consciousness, we can say the most valuable thing differs. And I can give you examples. And for that matter I have to remind you the play by Shakespeare in the name of the merchant of the Vanice.
Plot
"The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare is a play set in Venice and Belmont. It revolves around Antonio, a merchant, who secures a loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help his friend Bassanio court Portia, a rich heiress. The loan terms are harsh: if Antonio cannot repay, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh.
Bassanio wins Portia's hand by correctly choosing among three caskets, a test set by her late father. Meanwhile, Antonio's ships, which are his wealth, are reported lost at sea, making him unable to repay Shylock. The trial scene sees Shylock demanding his bond, but Portia, disguised as a lawyer, saves Antonio by arguing that Shylock can take his flesh but not spill any blood, making the bond void. Shylock is punished, though some of his wealth is redistributed. The play ends with the couples reunited, but it leaves questions about justice, mercy, and prejudice, particularly through the treatment of Shylock, whose character has been interpreted in various ways regarding anti-Semitism.
Philosophy of values
We can leave aside the questions about justice and mercy as it is not relevant for our discussion of value. The fact I wanted to point out is a hypothetical scenario of a worth of a pound of flesh could actually exceed more than all the wealth on earth. It doesn't appear so to us as long as it is someone else's flesh. A cow, a chicken or a dog. An African, American or a Chinees. But if it is your pound of flesh we are talking about, I am sure you can say it is priceless.
Modern version of the same question was asked from Mathew Breger, by Mickey Pearson (Drug lord) in the film The Gentlemen (2019) just before he was locked in a freezer. What is the worth of his pound of flesh? If you haven't watched the movie, it is one of a kind with action packed drama crime - Like all Matthew McConaughey films!
If a pound of flesh worth millions or billions to the person who poses it, undoubtedly, we are the richest people on the planet earth. Wherever you are your flesh would worth than anything else in the world. How about your life? Timing of this article could be no better as just the other day I argued money has no inherent value as it is just a social convention. And here we are arguing limitless value of human flesh. Philosophy of values really seems deep!
Dreams Shattered
Once I have seen a girl who came with a crushed arm from an occupational injury to the ED. A really mangled limb. In her twenties, with all life ahead of her, and I saw her dreams when shattered as the Surgeon told her that he cannot fix the arm, which should be amputated immediately to save her life from sepsis. I am sure she would have given all her wealth if anyone could save her pound of flesh. Sometimes money and wealth cannot really solve human problems. Specially disease and death, and tragedy which are not foreseen. Like a mass murder on a new year day!
With all your limbs, and good vision and smell, what can you do today to overcome such tragic happening?
One way is to become anxious and panic about all the unforeseen dooms which can happen.
Other way is to improve mindfulness of this moment to understand there is no such problem now! And appreciate the pound of flesh we possess and its true value, noting the question is unnecessary and excessive to your near perfect life.
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