The Getty Kouros

thingiverse

Similar to the two Zippo lighters, a kouros statue possesses either immense historical significance or none at all; its value is determined by its provenance. Philip K. Dick's quote from The Man in the High Castle highlights this paradox - one cannot discern an object's worth simply by examining it. A similar scenario unfolds with the kouros statue, which the New York Times described as potentially one of the most important ancient artworks to enter the U.S. post-World War II, but its value is contingent on its documented history. The uncertainty surrounding its authenticity mirrors Philip K. Dick's notion that objectivity is an elusive concept, even in the modern age with advanced technologies for examination and dating. As with FDR's Zippo lighters, one cannot determine a kouros's worth based on appearances alone; its value hinges on its history or lack thereof, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of objectivity and worth.