I came across an article that started with this:
The law of diminishing returns is a concept from economics that indicates after a certain point, increasing only one input starts producing fewer returns.
I didn’t get to read the rest of the article because it was for paying subscribers only. But it’s enough of a hook to get me where I want to go, which is here:
The law of diminishing returns applies to so many kinds of satisfaction in this world that it should be prompting a question. Why is it a law? On what does it depend?
Take a meal – any meal that you like. Eat it. Now the cafe owner brings you the same meal again – from free because he is in the mood – and you just don’t have the appetite any more. It’s the same with everything you can imagine, as long as your direction is to satisfy yourself.
If, on the other hand, you shift your desire outside of yourself, to others and their needs – then the picture changes. Now you can forget about being full because you are never thinking about yourself.
Now the only question is whether you can do it. Can you actually think of others and to what is to the benefit of others (and not to self-benefit) at all? It’s a big ask. There are many pitfalls, such as the desire for recognition for one’s efforts. But the direction is invigorating. And in this world today, or at least in Western Europe and North America where the satisfaction of every desire surrounds us and ceases to satisfy, changing the course of your desires is exactly on point.
Again, that should be prompting a question. Why is it a law? On what does it depend? Well first of all, most discussions would say that it’s not so much a law based on theoretical premises, as it is a fact based upon experience.
If it is a law, then its origin has to come from something above sensory experience, that controls human experience. Answering that is a deeper question.