George simmel interpretation help??? and theoretical orientation

Question

·     “The value which an actor surrenders for another value can never be greater, for the subject himself under the actual circumstances of the moment, than that for which it is given…Thus if someone at the point of death from hunger gives away a jewel for a piece of bread, he does so because the latter is worth more to him under the circumstances than the former.  Some particular circumstances, however, are always involved when one attaches a feeling of value to an object. Every such feeling of value is lodged in a whole complex system of our feelings which is in constant flux, adaption and reconstruction.  Whether these circumstances are exceptional or relatively constant is obviously in principle immaterial.  Through the fact that the starving man gives away his jewel he shows unambiguously that the bread is worth more to him” (Simmel, “Exchange”, in E & A, p. 302).

Answer 1

This is a very transactional approach to a question of value, very material. Yes, the writing is complex (and remember, it presumably started in German), but as in the other quota, taking it apart phrase by phrase may help. What has he compared to what? Draw arrows from words like “former” and “latter” to the words they reference, or rewrite those sentences with the referents in place of the distracting words.

Are you working on an essay, or answering specific questions on these particular quotes? “Interpretation” is a big request.