Human Values and the Desire to Matter: Discussing “The Mattering Instinct”

In her recent book The Mattering Instinct, philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein argues that much of what human beings do is driven by a universal need to matter — to prove to ourselves that we are worthy of consideration. She argues that efforts to fulfill this need are responsible for a wide range of human projects, from the greatest achievements of scientific discovery and artistic creation, to the worst atrocities of murder and genocide.On this episode of ARI Bookshelf, Greg Salmieri, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Sam Weaver discuss Goldstein’s book. The episode includes discussions of the merits and limitations of Goldstein’s account of mattering and her emphasis on the idea that life involves resisting entropy. They also comment on the book’s brief mention of Ayn Rand and relate her ideas to Goldstein’s.Topics include:Goldstein’s basic account of why people have a need to matterHer conception of what constitutes objective matteringThe absence of businessmen and entrepreneurs from her categoriesThe book’s quotation of Ayn Rand in a section about intoleranceHow Goldstein uses the concept of entropy in her account of matteringHer apparent unwillingness to radically rethink conventional ideas about moralityThis episode was recorded on September 19, 2026.