Why do material possessions have such a dramatic impact on human worth?

Question

I know what the basic gest of the reasons of this question this. I believe some answers are human psychology, greed, judgment, but i need more precise and "elaborate" reasons.

Anyone can answer this question, but it's better if you read Russian literature such as Gogol, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. "The Overcoat, How Much Land does a man need, The Bet. " This question is directly related to these stories.

Answer 1

It's all about value and perception.

It is a relatively easy matter to determine the value of material things. Go to your local supermarket and you'll find thousands of things all given very definite values. Anyone who cannot tell you whether a thousand dollars is more valuable than one dollar has either got some serious problems or is just looking for ways around the question.

On the other hand, it can be very difficult to determine the relative value of, say, peace of mind. Or a good friend. Or a warm, sunny day. You can't really BUY any of these things directly. So it becomes very easy to not focus on them, and to focus on those easier material things instead.

Unless you're actually headed toward a goal, you're not likely to arrive. So it is with happiness. It's no secret that there are many wealthy people who are miserable. All the money in the world isn't getting them happiness, because they aren't really TRYING to get happiness. Or, at best, they're going about it in the completely wrong way.

We see an example of this in 'The Overcoat'. The main character was initially happy. He enjoyed his work, he was proud of it. All he lacked was the respect of his peers. They - unlike him - valued the material. And once he started focusing on that, all the other things that brought him pleasure faded into the background. His values changed until he NEEDED the physical... and once he lost it, he expired.

You choose the value system. Money is easy, but far less effective for many things.

Answer 2

Sometimes humans are unsure about their own self worth and it is easier to show outward material things and have others reaffirm your worth,goodness/greatness and importance rather than letting everyone know that there are questions about your worth and what kind of person you are.
Because people use material things to hide their true selves, sometimes though it is the one with all these things that have the most to feel low about. Sometimes it is the one with the least who is the most worthwhile.

People sometimes mistakenly think that because you have so many good things, it must be because you deserve it--as a good person or a better person. This may or may not be true.
Fortune has favored you--and that also attract more people to you.

Outward material things gives us recognition and tells people how they should treat us--like fine silk or wool. People who have more must be of higher importance and worth...right?
There are probably lots of things about you that makes you very valuable--not all of them can be seen--your wisdom, goodness, loveableness--but not everyone would value your qualities on the same scale--everyone agrees on jewelry.

For the most part though, in today's world, material things distract people from the things about you that they might not usually be attracted to. Like you are giving thm an outward message that you are a great person...really...

Answer 3

right. immaturity is the chief reason, i'd say. and mostly
because material wealth is obvious and irrefutable.
it's hard to deny a porsche when it's staring you in the face!
my car is better than your car, hence i must be a much more
valuable person than you are!
.
but i think that a much better question might be something
along these lines:
.
Why do material possessions have such a dramatic
impact upon the *perception* of human worth?
.

Answer 4

Because somewhere along the line humankind covinced themselves that its what you posses instead of what is inside. And plus people love getting things.

Answer 5

It is what we can see that makes us what we seem to be. If there was nothing tangible about us, then people will have to search deeper to fin dour worth. Many people are too shallow to do so.