zlacker

> a lot of human meaning comes from providing value to others

This is not intrinsic, though. It is a cultural imperative, so perhaps we need to revisit that?

>>int_19+(OP)
I've pretty sure that's about as fundamental as it gets. Help tribe = feel good; tribe values your contributions = feel good; your talents and interests genuinely help the tribe = feel very good.

I don't mean this in a "people love work, actually", hooray-capitalism sense (LOL, god no), but the sense that humans tend to be happier and more content when they're helpful to those around them. It used to be a lot easier to provide that kind of value through creative and self-expressive efforts, than it is now. Any true need for artists and creative work (and, for the most part, craftspeople) at the scale of friend & family circles or towns or whatever, is all but completely gone.