Put two different ways:
(1) If I prefer having an orange more highly than having an apple, does that mean that I prefer not having an apple more highly than not having an orange?
(2) If I value having an orange more highly than having an apple, does that mean that I value not having an apple more highly than not having an orange?
And do those two questions differ at all?
Good question i’d like to know too
In the context of Austrian economics, “prefer” and “value” mean the same thing, so the questions do not differ.
As for your question, no. Value applies to ends, then secondly to goods which can serve these ends according to their perceived ability to satisfy them. “Having an apple” and “Not having an apple” probably serve separate ends, so the use-value given to them will be different.
Can you give an example?
Is the preference of not having an apple correlative to that of having an orange? If so, then yes. If it’s merely a preference of not having an apple (e.g. not to anger some deity or out of fear that all apples have worms or some stupid shit) it’s a different thing. For it to be analogous it must be “a preference to not have an apple which entails having an orange.”
Of value formation or having vs. not having?
Why would you prefer not having either?
No. You could easily prefer the taste of an orange (yumm!) over the one of an apple, and still have no preference as to whether your hunger was caused by not having one or the other. The pain in your stomach is the same whether you’re not eating an apple or an orange … or a heap of turds, for that matter.
Both mean exactly the same thing and are both probably true. The only way that they could not be true is if you don’t think of the loss of something. So for instance if you have both fruits in front of you and you pick up the orange because you want it more, but you don’t consider at that point in time that this means the loss of an apple, then they may not imply each other. If you have thought about both things then one must necessarily lead to the other however.
Orange you glad you didn’t prefer a banana?
I think Jon gave the best answer.