Looking at status games economically, the difference among them appears to be the externalities--are they positive ones beneficial for society, neutral, or negative and harmful to society?
Of course, the caveat here is that while virtue signaling might get justified as enforcement of social norms and therefore beneficial, the question that is begged is whether or not that social norm is net-net beneficial in the first place.
The growth of the human body of knowledge is generally good. Social norms are a mixed bag; some social norms benefit one group while imposing outsized costs on another, and can be economically net negative. Taking this to a reductio ad Hitlerum to drive it home, the Nazis thought that the removal of Jews was a positive social norm.
A friend of mine, used to say: "Honesty may be the best policy, but few people can afford the premiums.".
Status seeking goes back to our pre-human hominid ancestors. It is that deeply inbred.
Absolutely fabulous perspective and parsing of status games. 👏👏👏
I think you've just described capitalism.
Looking at status games economically, the difference among them appears to be the externalities--are they positive ones beneficial for society, neutral, or negative and harmful to society?
Of course, the caveat here is that while virtue signaling might get justified as enforcement of social norms and therefore beneficial, the question that is begged is whether or not that social norm is net-net beneficial in the first place.
The growth of the human body of knowledge is generally good. Social norms are a mixed bag; some social norms benefit one group while imposing outsized costs on another, and can be economically net negative. Taking this to a reductio ad Hitlerum to drive it home, the Nazis thought that the removal of Jews was a positive social norm.