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What is the difference between valorization and commercialization? And what do precisely each of these words mean, when applied to education?

valorize to enhance or try to enhance the price, value, or status of by organized and usually governmental action [MW]

commercialize to use (something) as an opportunity to earn money [MW]

To me, the meaning of valorization seems to rather be more accurate of how we use the word commercialization. At the same time, different dictionaries present differing definitions and then there are even more different definitions for these words as terms.

That's the reason why I am asking here, hoping that someone familiar with these terms could explain them. What does it mean to commercialize education and what does it mean to valorize education?

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  • I'm sure you've already looked in a dictionary or two. Please show what you found and what is still unclear, so that others may give a helpful answer rather than simply repeat what you already know.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 4, 2015 at 21:20
  • I did not understand the meaning presented in the dictionary. The meaning of both words seemed contrary to colloquial use. I would appreciate if someone could explain these words as if they would use them in every day context.
    – Sonnia
    Dec 4, 2015 at 21:22
  • So please show your research. Show what the dictionary said, and explain what you did not understand.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 4, 2015 at 21:23
  • The dictionary presents the meaning of: Valorization - to enhance or try to enhance the price, value, or status of by organized and usually governmental action Commercialization - to use (something) as an opportunity to earn money To me the meaning of Valorization seems to rather be more accurate of how we use the word commercialization. At the same time different dictionaries present differing definitions and then there are even more different definitions for these words as terms.
    – Sonnia
    Dec 4, 2015 at 21:32
  • That's is the reason why i am asking here, hoping that someone familiar with these terms could explain them. What does it mean to commercialize education and what does it mean to valorize education?
    – Sonnia
    Dec 4, 2015 at 21:32

1 Answer 1

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Valorize means to ascribe value to something. In its general use, it means validate. From Gender and Citizenship by Claudia Moscovic

While the narrator appears to valorize feminine ethics, Raymon dismisses it as charming and infantile in order to validate his own political views.

As a term of art in economics it means to artificially set the price of a commodity. Consider this from a Depression-era monograph, Consequences of price fixing in competitive industries: with special reference to the proposed fixed minimum prices of petroleum products:

The work of our Federal Farm Board tends to valorize the price of wheat and cotton.

Commercialize means to turn something into a business or manage something so as to make a profit. It can have the connotation of exploitation or the subordination of virtue to moneymaking. In its neutral sense, see the exhortations on the internet about commercializing your inventions. In its other sense, see the seasonal moaning about the commercialization of Christmas.

To determine what these words mean with respect to education will require the context of their use.

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