Why Does Belonging Matter? 2040's Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 136

Issue 136, November 23, 2023

The most fundamental motivation among the human species is to belong.  Belonging is implicit in sharing trust, affinity and caring about someone or something bigger than yourself. Renowned philosopher Dan Dennett in a TED talk in 2006 encouraged everyone to dedicate and devote themselves to something more important than themselves to find meaning and purpose in their lives. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions whether the audience of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors were paying attention. We would add here that the point of communication is not the exchange of information but rather the exchange of understanding. And understanding is what makes belonging matter.

Today, belonging has taken on some sinister overtones. The virtue of belonging and dedication to a cause has morphed into political, social, and cultural factions subject to criticism and often ridicule. The root needs for belonging have not changed, but the institutionalism of belonging…