> Problems are the limits on your potential. When you solve problems and remove your limits, you become more complex, more skilled, more knowledgeable, more open, more connected to reality. With each problem you solve, the perceived difficulty of life goes down, and your level of purpose goes up. > Humans find joy in solving chosen problems (chosen suffering). -- [[Purpose & Profit]] --- ## Part 1 -- Simple Explanation Humans often feel good about themselves when they successfully tackle a challenge or fix something that's broken. Think about the satisfaction of assembling furniture correctly, figuring out a tough puzzle, helping a friend with advice, or completing a difficult project at work. This feeling of accomplishment comes from demonstrating competence – showing ourselves and others that we can effectively interact with the world and overcome obstacles. When we solve problems, we prove our capability and usefulness, which directly feeds into our sense of self-worth. It’s a fundamental way we experience ourselves as effective agents in the world, rather than just passive observers. ## Part 2 -- In-depth Exploration **Deep Explanation: The Roots of Value in Competence** The idea that self-value stems significantly from problem-solving ability isn't superficial; it's rooted in deep layers of human existence: 1. **Evolutionary Imperative (Survival & Adaptation):** At its core, problem-solving is a survival mechanism. Our ancestors who could figure out how to find food, build shelter, avoid predators, and navigate social complexities were more likely to survive and reproduce. The positive feeling (dopamine release, satisfaction) associated with solving problems is likely an evolutionary reward system reinforcing adaptive behavior. We are descendants of problem-solvers; the drive is built-in. It's about imposing order on chaos, predicting and controlling the environment, however small the scale. Failure to solve critical problems historically meant death or exclusion. 2. **Psychological Need for Competence & Agency (Mastery & Control):** Psychology (e.g., Self-Determination Theory by Deci & Ryan) identifies competence as a fundamental human need, alongside autonomy and relatedness. Feeling competent means feeling effective and capable of mastering challenges. Successfully solving problems directly fulfills this need. It provides evidence of our agency – our ability to act upon the world and produce desired outcomes. This sense of control contrasts sharply with feelings of helplessness, which are strongly linked to depression and low self-worth (e.g., Seligman's work on learned helplessness). The *process* of engaging with and overcoming difficulty builds resilience and self-efficacy (Bandura). 3. **Social & Economic Contribution (Value Creation & Status):** In social groups, individuals who can solve important problems for the collective (e.g., the skilled hunter, the wise elder, the innovative toolmaker, the modern engineer or doctor) are often valued and accorded status. Solving problems creates tangible or intangible value for others. This external validation – recognition and appreciation from the group – reinforces internal feelings of self-worth. Our economic systems largely function by rewarding those who solve problems (market needs, technical challenges, logistical hurdles). Your "value" in the marketplace is often a direct function of the problems you can solve. 4. **Existential Search for Meaning (Purpose & Impact):** For many, a sense of purpose is tied to making a difference or overcoming significant challenges. Solving problems – whether scientific, social, artistic, or personal – can provide this sense of meaning. It's an active engagement with life, a way to leave a mark, to contribute something beyond mere existence. Facing and working through difficulties gives life texture and narrative structure. As Viktor Frankl observed in Nazi concentration camps, finding meaning, often through purposeful action even in dire circumstances, was key to psychological survival. **Origin & Context:** This isn't a recent idea tied only to modern meritocracy. It's visible throughout history: * Ancient myths often center heroes overcoming immense challenges (solving problems of monsters, gods, or fate). * Philosophies like Stoicism emphasize internal problem-solving (managing one's reactions and judgments) as key to virtue and tranquility. * The rise of science and engineering during the Enlightenment further elevated problem-solving as a primary human capability driving progress. * Modern work culture often heavily emphasizes measurable achievements and problem-solving skills. **Insightful Quotes:** * "Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality." - Erich Fromm (Implies self-creation through active engagement/problem-solving). * "The людини's search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life... This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance which will satisfy his own will to meaning." - Viktor Frankl, *Man's Search for Meaning* (Solving the 'problem' of one's unique life task). * "What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task." - Viktor Frankl (Framing life not as avoiding problems, but engaging with meaningful ones). * "The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both." - James A. Michener (Suggests that deep engagement in skillful activity/problem-solving dissolves dichotomies and becomes intrinsically valuable). **Examples:** * **The Scientist:** Derives immense value from solving the puzzle of a natural phenomenon. * **The Entrepreneur:** Finds worth in identifying and solving a market need, creating a viable business. * **The Artist:** Solves aesthetic, technical, or expressive problems to create a meaningful work. * **The Parent:** Constantly solves problems related to a child's well-being, development, and behavior, finding deep value in this often-unseen labor. * **The Skilled Tradesperson:** Feels pride and value in expertly diagnosing and fixing a complex mechanical or electrical issue. **Significance & Blind Spots:** * **Significance:** Understanding this link is crucial for motivation, education (emphasizing competence-building), therapy (building agency), and organizational design (creating roles with meaningful challenges). It explains why unemployment or underemployment can be so psychologically devastating beyond the financial impact. * **Blind Spots/Nuances:** * **It's Not the Only Source:** Self-value also comes from relationships, belonging, love, ethical behavior, spiritual connection, and simply intrinsic being ("I am valuable just because I exist"). Over-reliance on problem-solving for worth can be brittle. * **The "Human Doing" Trap:** Society, especially modern capitalism, can overly emphasize *doing* (solving problems, producing) over *being*. This can lead to burnout, anxiety, and devaluing those who are less "productive" in conventional terms (e.g., the elderly, disabled, contemplative individuals). * **Type of Problem Matters:** Solving trivial problems may offer fleeting satisfaction but not deep self-worth. Meaningful self-value often comes from tackling problems aligned with one's values or contributing to something larger than oneself. * **Failure is Part of the Process:** If self-worth is *only* tied to *successful* problem-solving, failure can be crushing. A healthier perspective values the *effort*, learning, and resilience developed through *engaging* with problems, win or lose. * **Defining "Problem":** The concept can be broad. Is raising a child "solving a problem"? Is creating art? Yes, in the sense of navigating complexity and achieving a desired (even if evolving) state. **Connections to Other Ideas:** * **Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:** Self-actualization, the highest level, often involves complex problem-solving and realizing one's potential. Esteem needs are directly met by demonstrating competence. * **Flow State (Csikszentmihalyi):** The state of complete absorption often occurs when skills are well-matched to a challenging task (i.e., engaging problem-solving). * **Antifragility (Nassim Taleb):** Systems (including humans) that gain from disorder and challenges inherently value the process of overcoming problems. * **Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell):** A universal narrative structure involving facing trials and returning transformed – essentially a large-scale problem-solving arc tied to identity. ## Part 3 -- Q&A 1. **Q: Is problem-solving the *only* source of human self-value?** * **A:** No. While it's a powerful and fundamental source rooted in our biology and psychology, self-value also comes from relationships, love, belonging, ethical conduct, contributing to community, creative expression, spiritual connection, and the intrinsic sense of being. Relying solely on problem-solving for self-worth can make one vulnerable to setbacks and ignore other vital aspects of human experience. 2. **Q: What happens to the self-value of someone who struggles to solve problems, perhaps due to disability, lack of opportunity, or repeated failure?** * **A:** This can significantly negatively impact self-value, potentially leading to feelings of helplessness, inadequacy, or depression. It highlights why societal support, accessible opportunities, reframing success (focusing on effort/learning), and cultivating other sources of self-worth (like relationships or intrinsic value) are crucial. Self-worth shouldn't solely depend on conventional measures of problem-solving competence. 3. **Q: Does the *type* or *scale* of the problem matter for generating self-value?** * **A:** Yes, generally. While fixing a small household issue brings minor satisfaction, tackling complex, meaningful challenges that align with one's values, require significant skill, or contribute positively to others typically generates a deeper, more sustained sense of self-worth. Solving problems perceived as trivial or meaningless might not contribute much to core self-value, even if difficult. Context and personal meaning are key. 4. **Q: How does deriving self-value from problem-solving relate to finding purpose in life?** * **A:** They are closely linked. For many, purpose involves applying their skills and efforts towards solving problems they care about – whether global issues, community needs, scientific mysteries, or personal growth challenges. Engaging with and overcoming such challenges provides a sense of direction, impact, and meaning, which are core components of a purposeful life. Problem-solving becomes the *verb* of living purposefully. 5. **Q: Are there risks associated with deriving self-value primarily from problem-solving ability?** * **A:** Yes. Key risks include: * **Burnout:** Constantly seeking validation through achievement can be exhausting. * **Brittle Self-Esteem:** Self-worth becomes overly dependent on external success and vulnerable to failure. * **Devaluing "Being":** Neglecting rest, relationships, and intrinsic worth in favor of constant "doing" and proving competence. * **Utilitarian View of Self/Others:** Judging oneself and others primarily based on their usefulness or ability to solve problems, potentially lacking compassion. * **Fear of Failure:** Avoiding necessary risks or challenges for fear of impacting self-worth.