It is only the effect that something has on us that we seek. Nothing has value intrinsically but the effect on our senses is where the value is. Would a rose be cultivated if it had brown petals and smelled like rotten meat? Would gold be treasured if is wasn't shiny and had unique effects as a material? Would sex be worth having if there was no friction/sensation and it did not result in reproduction? If only the effect matters, then what are the most valued effects? These thoughts were in my head after waking up around midnight. Sorry if they don't make sense.
In every generation there are those that through no effort of their own rise to the top of intelligence and creativity. Then there are those that work like hell to scratch and claw one single brilliant and original thought from their stubborn mind. These are the musings of the latter type.