Instrumental
Notes
Claim
Instrumental is when we value something based on the indirect Utility quantifies measurable benefits and guides rational decisions it brings rather than the the importance of the thing in itself.
Explanation
An easy way to differentiate between instrumental and intrinsic is to ask yourself whether a better replacement had existed, would you have taken it instead.
The conflict between instrumental and intrinsic properties of objects is similar to the Distinguishing appearance from authentic substance reveals hidden conflicts conflict of individuals. We can compare the intrinsic properties of the individual as their soul, values, true desires, and their instrumental properties as their ego and image.
Why it matters
Therefore when something is instrumental to us, usually we have a weaker connection to it Alienation means feeling detached from life and others, and we can't Trust enables reliance on others honesty and good intent that the connection will last. It is a pragmatic look on life, yet a cold one potentially.
This also implies that things without intrinsic value can have value in the eyes of the customers, which means that marketing has great power over us if it manages to convince us of the instrumental value of things.
Examples
For example, I can learn a degree not because I like the subject, but rather because I want to impress employers. So the "enjoyment of learning" is an Content/Notes/intrinsic cause for desire, while "getting a job" is an instrumental one.
A person who just wants to get hired, would not have gone to learn a degree if he was offered a job instead, while for the person who loves to study this subject, there is no replacement.
A friendship that is based on monetary gains is not just less deep, but also less reliable for the giver because they know that once the money stops flowing, they will leave them. It becomes just a matter of Incentives shape behavior by making certain actions more attractive.
Supporters
Opposers
To see things only in terms of their instrumental value, and prioritize things based on that value would turn us into Econs are purely rational agents who maximize utility. We would be good friends only if we received the same level of support in return, we would be good employees only so far as it promotes our status, and once things get hard and we give more than we receive, we would abandon it completely.
Open questions
Visual
Overview
🔼Topic:: Value and Meaning Origin:: The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish Link:: https://share.snipd.com/episode/1098c93b-c96b-43cd-b756-5cfa378aec19