Final answer:
The instrumental value of a college education refers to its practical benefits, such as career advancement and earning potential, while intrinsic value pertains to the personal enrichment and intellectual satisfaction gained from education itself, irrespective of external outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The instrumental value and intrinsic value are two ways in which a college education can be appreciated. Instrumental value refers to the usefulness of an education in achieving other ends, such as a higher salary or better employment opportunities. It is practical and outcome-focused. For example, pursuing a degree to become more marketable and secure a high-paying job is to value education instrumentally. Intrinsic value, on the other hand, is the value an education has in itself, regardless of any practical applications. This could include the personal growth one experiences, the joy of learning new things, or the satisfaction of intellectual curiosity. The intrinsic value of a college education relates to the ways in which it enriches one's life and fulfills innate desires to understand and explore.
These concepts have roots in ethical theories. Consequentialist theories, like utilitarianism, maintain that the value of an action is determined by its outcomes. This is akin to the instrumental value of education, where the focus is on the consequences (high salary, employment, etc.). In contrast, non-consequentialist theories suggest that some values are inherent and are not solely judged by consequences, which aligns with the idea of intrinsic value. The variety in the appreciation of an education's value has significant implications for students, educators, policy makers, and society at large.