Usage
Usage of different things
Let us take tools, as an example. They gradually lose their physical capability while being used and thus lose their value. On the contrary, cultural phenomena derive their value directly from being “used,” which means being shared, communicated, known. Cultural phenomena gain value with each usage.
By the way, ideas corresponding to a tool itself appreciate in many ways, while the tool depreciates from use.
Different uses of one thing
A material thing can be used both physically and culturally. An artifact, say a unique building, depreciates because of physical use, but becomes more valuable when it gets included in communication between people and becomes known for its uniqueness. Another example—old cars or any other collectible. It is interesting that cultural use, while bringing value to an artifact, may imply or directly require the deprivation of physical use.
Needs
When your body feels a physical need, it signals you. After the body is satisfied, you normally do not feel the need for a certain period of time. These basic needs are ingrained in your body by nature and do not differ much from the needs of animals. When it comes to a cultural phenomenon, the more you communicate with it, the more you need it and vice versa: the less culturally developed a person is, the less he or she needs access to culture. Nothing signals to a person the need to read a book, to listen to music, or to watch a painting, if this person has not been brought up with and taught to understand and like music, books, paintings. These specifically human needs— or, better said, needs of the human soul—have to be intentionally developed. Satisfaction from a cultural phenomenon is of a specific nature. It is close to the satisfaction from normal communication between people. The latter develops if it is fulfilling. Generally,
