Diminishing returns?

In our material needs, the law of diminishing return is everywhere. If you are starving and have no food at hand, the value of food is almost infinite. But if you are fat and just have eaten a large dinner, the value of more food is zero or negative. Likewise, if you don't have enough clothes to protect your body from the cold or from roving eyes, clothes have a high value. But when you can't close the wardrobe door even when pushing hard, the value of more clothes is low.

And yet, because we (or even our ancestors) have experienced lack, we continue to believe that more is better, even when it defies all logic and decency. But not only instincts and general culture is at work here. Advertising relentlessly fans the flame of desire for material things. And it does so by linking the objects to other needs, not directly material. Social needs, which are often gaping holes, despite all the stuff. So advertisers try to imply (never tell outright) that chewing gum and drinking soda will make you popular; that shampoo will make people love you; that detergents will improve your family relations. And so on and on. There are no commercials telling you that listening before talking will make people respect you, and very few telling you that the best gift you can give a child is time.