Key Moments
Why Mattering Matters | Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Closer To TruthKey Moments
Humans have a deep-seated "mattering instinct" to prove their self-importance is objectively warranted, but this drive can lead to destructive behaviors when misapplied.
Key Insights
The "mattering instinct" is defined as the human compulsion to feel that one's self-importance is objectively justified, a drive that shapes individual lives and societal dynamics.
This instinct is uniquely human and poignant because it introduces uncertainty into our lives, as we stake our existence on claims to mattering that we might be wrong about.
The drive to matter is deeply connected to the second law of thermodynamics; life locally resists entropy (disorder) by importing energy and exporting it, a process that requires self-organization and thus, a sense of "mattering" to persist.
There are four primary strategies for satisfying the mattering instinct: socializers (mattering to others), heroic strivers (meeting personal standards of excellence), transcenders (finding meaning in a metaphysical reality), and competitors (mattering more than others).
Mattering projects can go "wrong" both for the individual (leading to suffering and entropic breakdown rather than flourishing) and morally (by undermining the mattering of others).
The drive to matter, while fundamental to human experience, has been the source of humanity's greatest achievements and its gravest atrocities, highlighting the need for epistemic humility.
The dual nature of "mattering" in human existence
Philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein introduces the "mattering instinct" as a core framework for understanding human mentality and society. This instinct stems from the dual meaning of the word "matter" in English: the physical substance of things and the concept of being deserving of attention. Humans, as creatures "of matter," possess a profound longing "to matter," an intrinsic need to feel that their existence and importance are objectively warranted. This drive goes beyond mere subjective feelings; it involves a continuous, often unconscious, process of justifying oneself to oneself. Goldstein argues this is a fundamental aspect of the human condition, essential for pursuing life. The concept is also uniquely human, a peculiar trait akin to Darwin's observation of blushing as a uniquely human expression.
Peculiarity and poignancy: the human condition
The mattering instinct is described as peculiar and poignant because it is unique to humans and imbues human life with inherent uncertainty. Unlike other creatures, humans grapple with the question "whether we matter as much as we feel that we matter." This self-reflection and need for justification mean we stake our lives on claims to mattering, acknowledging the possibility that these claims might be wrong. This potential for error lends a certain poignancy to the human experience. Furthermore, what constitutes "mattering" varies greatly among individuals, leading to diverse "mattering maps." When individuals strongly believe in their particular way of mattering, they often tend to universalize it, expecting others to conform to their standards, which can lead to significant social friction.
Resisting entropy: the biological imperative to matter
Goldstein connects the mattering instinct to fundamental laws of physics, particularly the second law of thermodynamics, which dictates a universal tendency towards increasing disorder or entropy. Life, as a complex, organized system, must actively fight this entropic pull. This fight requires importing energy and exporting entropy back into the environment, a process that occurs locally to maintain the self-organization essential for life. The drive to matter, then, can be seen as a biological imperative, pounded into our very identity, as Spinoza intuited with his concept of "conatus" or the striving to persist. This instinct helps us resist the natural unraveling of systems and sustain ourselves. The deep-seated dualist inclination, where individuals feel a separation between their will and their physical bodies (as seen in children's early expressions), may partly stem from this need to feel more than mere matter, a way to achieve a profound sense of mattering beyond biological imperatives.
The four strategies for satisfying the mattering instinct
Goldstein identifies four primary strategies people employ to satisfy their deep-seated longing to matter: socializers, heroic strivers, transcenders, and competitors. Socializers find their sense of mattering by mattering to others, whether intimate connections or strangers, as seen in the desire for fame and influence. Heroic strivers focus on meeting personal standards of excellence in intellectual, artistic, or ethical pursuits, driven by internal benchmarks rather than external validation. Transcenders find meaning and mattering through religious or spiritual beliefs, deriving their significance from a connection to a metaphysical creator or a cosmic narrative. Competitors, on the other hand, experience mattering as a zero-sum game, believing they must matter more than others, which can manifest in both individualistic and group-based (like neo-Nazism) adversarial dynamics. These strategies, though diverse, represent different paths to validating one's self-importance.
When the pursuit of mattering goes wrong
The pursuit of mattering, while a fundamental human drive, can lead to negative outcomes both personally and morally. A "mattering project" goes wrong for the individual if it leads to more suffering and entropic breakdown than flourishing, failing to satisfy the core longing and instead causing ongoing disappointment or existential dread. An example is a dedicated classical guitarist who, despite great talent, faces a limited career path, leading to bitterness and a deep aversion to music. Eventually, finding a new passion as a writer allows for renewed flourishing. Morally, a mattering project is considered wrong if it depends on undermining the mattering of others, creating external "entropy" in their lives and thereby diminishing one's own capacity for flourishing. Conversely, a "right" mattering project enhances one's own flourishing and, ideally, contributes positively to the flourishing of others or, at minimum, does not undermine it.
The role of universalization and epistemic humility
A key tendency within the mattering instinct is universalization – the impulse to project one's own sense of what matters onto others, believing it to be objectively true and universally applicable. This is particularly strong among "transcenders." Goldstein suggests that while some degree of universalizing is necessary for morality and societal order, it often occurs at the "wrong level," leading to conflict and a lack of understanding. The greater our understanding of the origins and diverse expressions of the mattering instinct, the more crucial it is to cultivate epistemic humility. This involves acknowledging the subjective nature of our claims to mattering, maintaining a degree of doubt and uncertainty about our own perspectives, and recognizing that our individual pursuits of mattering, while necessary for living, are not necessarily absolute truths. This humility is vital for navigating societal problems and fostering a more understanding and flourishing world.
Mattering: the twin source of our greatest achievements and atrocities
Ultimately, the human drive to matter is a double-edged sword, responsible for both humanity's highest accomplishments and its most horrific acts. Whether it's the complex scientific theories, profound artistic creations, acts of great altruism, or the pursuit of justice, these often stem from a deep need to prove one's significance. Conversely, this same instinct fuels ideologies of supremacy, justifications for violence, and the persecution of those deemed less important. Goldstein's work suggests that understanding this fundamental human drive is key to comprehending our successes and failures. By recognizing the diverse ways we seek to matter and the potential pitfalls of these pursuits, particularly the dangers of universalizing our own claims and undermining others, we can strive for ways of mattering that promote genuine flourishing and moral integrity, while acknowledging the inherent uncertainties of our quest for significance.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The mattering instinct is the human drive to feel significant and deserving of attention. It's the deep-seated need to matter, not just as physical beings ('creatures of matter'), but in a way that justifies our existence to ourselves.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
His language is echoed in calling blushing a peculiar instinct unique to humans, which the author relates to self-mattering.
Editor of Vogue magazine, she is quoted for her universalizing statement that dressing well is essential and not dressing well makes one a 'nobody'.
A 19th-century physicist who coined the term 'entropy' and intended it to mean 'transformation from within', correlating it with energy.
A mathematician who solved a major problem but then retreated from public life, refusing prizes and interviews, illustrating the potential isolation of heroic strivers.
The core concept of the book, arguing that humans are creatures of matter who long to matter, meaning to be deserving of attention.
A framework used by the author to categorize the diverse ways individuals pursue the 'mattering instinct'.
Discussed as the fundamental physical principle underlying life's drive to resist entropy and maintain organization, which the author links to the 'mattering instinct'.
Acknowledged as a significant challenge in understanding consciousness, previously referred to as the mind-body problem.
Referred to as an innate human inclination, often seen in children, where the mind or 'will' is perceived as separate from the body's actions.
Spinoza's term for the drive of self-preservation and self-mattering, considered fundamental to identity.
A Greek philosophical concept signifying flourishing or living well, presented as a prescription for a human life beyond momentary happiness.
One of the four identified strategies for satisfying the mattering instinct, focused on mattering to others, including strangers and through fame/influence.
A strategy for mattering that involves meeting personal standards of excellence in intellectual, artistic, athletic, or ethical pursuits, regardless of external recognition.
A metaphysical approach to mattering, often religious or spiritual, where significance is derived from a transcendent creator and a role in an eternal narrative.
A strategy where mattering is achieved by mattering more than others, framed as an adversarial or zero-sum pursuit.
The idea that one should maintain a degree of doubt and uncertainty about one's own claims to mattering, especially when universalizing them.
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