Because its full implications are not obvious or widely understood, the law of association has received extended discussion here. Of course, Crusoe and Friday receive many other benefits from their social association. For example, both individuals may attain higher positions on their personal value scales through the sharing of information, such as better recipes of production. Through cooperation they may be able to achieve new methods of production, either producing new goods or producing old ones more efficiently. Furthermore, society provides us opportunities for psychological benefits such as companionship and romantic love that are not available to the individual in isolation.

In a free-market society, these benefits are mutual. They are not obtained through hegemony—that is, by certain persons subjugating others to their own ends—but arise from peaceful and voluntary association. Even the giving of gifts generates subjective benefits to all involved parties. When Crusoe voluntarily offers a gift to Friday, he receives psychic utility (p. 4.5:15). If Friday accepts the gift, then he also clearly enjoys increased utility on his value scale.