Our eyes are a wonder of nature. We can see very small objects and also look far away. We have a wide field of view, can discern lightness and darkness, distinguish a multitude of colors. Modern technology and instruments lets us see in the dark and in other spectral ranges invisible to our eyes. Cameras are sent to places humans can’t go.
But many more things are still out of sight because they are hidden by physical distances or time. Things that happened in the past cannot be seen. Everything has hidden cost.
Utilities, taxes, fees, insurance, maintenance and repairs are examples of hidden costs.
Cheap prices may not reflect the harm to plants, animals or the environment. Sometimes there is harm to people in the production or transport of products. Ships and planes traversing the oceans polluting the environment and consume huge quantities of fuel.
If we knew about hidden costs, we might choose differently. We could see the true cost and make wiser decisions.