For decades, the roaring lion of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios has opened films with the motto ars gratia artis: art for art’s sake. While the sincerity of such a sentiment from a commercial behemoth is debatable, it captures a fundamental truth about creativity. When art is produced for profit, propaganda, or self-promotion, it ceases to be art in its purest sense and becomes a tool for something else.
However, a subtle shift is occurring in how we value the things that build life worth living. From galleries to forests and even the bedroom, there is a growing trend of “instrumentalisation”—the practice of treating an activity not as an end in itself, but as a means to a utilitarian goal. We are increasingly sold on the idea that art, sex, and nature are valuable only since of the health and wellbeing benefits they provide, rather than for their own intrinsic merit.
This trend is visible in public health messaging. A recent campaign for the National Art Pass utilized the slogan “See more. Live more,” suggesting that spending time in museums could literally facilitate a person live longer. Similarly, Arts Council England has promoted the notion that engaging in cultural activities has “proven health benefits” for individuals and communities. In these frames, art is no longer a spiritual or intellectual pursuit; it is a cardiovascular intervention.
As a physician, I recognize the importance of clinical outcomes, but as a writer, I see the danger in reducing the human experience to a series of biological transactions. When we treat a hug, a painting, or a walk in the woods as a delivery system for oxytocin or a method to lower blood pressure, we strip these experiences of their meaning. We stop asking what is good about the activity and start asking what the activity can do for us.
The Utilitarian Shift: From Devotion to Data
The instrumentalisation of life is not limited to the arts; it has permeated the most intimate and sacred spaces of human existence. Religion, once viewed as a devotional duty or a spiritual necessity, is now frequently marketed through the lens of longevity and mental health. It is increasingly common to find research cited by faith communities suggesting that church membership can reduce depression and lengthen life, effectively turning worship into a wellness strategy.
Even the most primal human drives are being quantified. In 2015, reports circulated in the press claiming that frequent orgasm could help protect against prostate cancer. While such medical data may be relevant, the framing shifts the motivation for intimacy from pleasure and connection to preventative healthcare. We are being taught to view our own bodies and desires as machines to be optimized for maximum efficiency and minimum risk.
This reductionist approach extends to our relationship with the natural world. The rise of “forest bathing” (Shinrin-yoku), which originated in Japan as a therapeutic practice, has turned the wilderness into a metaphorical walk-in clinic. When we enter a forest specifically to “improve wellbeing,” we maintain the same extractive mindset as those who harvest the timber; we are simply harvesting cortisol-reduction instead of wood.
The Cost of a Transactional Life
To understand why this matters, we must distinguish between intrinsic value—something that is good in itself—and extrinsic value—something that is useful for achieving a different goal. Money is the ultimate extrinsic good; it is only valuable for what it can buy. The danger of modern instrumentalisation is that it treats everything as if it were money.
When we prioritize extrinsic benefits, we often destroy the exceptionally things we are trying to maximize. Consider social connection. While studies suggest that social interaction improves health outcomes, the most valuable part of a friendship is the act of caring for another person. If a person socializes primarily to boost their own mental health, they are treating their friend as a tool for self-advancement. This is not connection; it is consumption.
This mindset is reinforced by three pillars of modern culture:
- The Illusion of Control: The belief that we can manipulate our environment and biology through the “right” choices to guarantee happiness and health.
- The Consumer Mindset: A transactional approach to life where relationships, education, and hobbies are viewed as investments with expected returns.
- Scientific Reductionism: The tendency to explain complex human experiences solely through their constitutive parts, such as hormones and neurotransmitters.
By breaking life down into these parts, we lose the system. A healthy life devoid of love or meaningful activity is an empty one. Physical health is an enabler of a good life, but it is not the point of living. To confuse the two is to mistake the vehicle for the destination.
Reclaiming the Intrinsic
Reversing this trend requires a conscious shift in how we engage with the world. It means acknowledging that while a walk in the woods may lower blood pressure, the reason for the walk should be the wonder of the natural world. It means recognizing that learning a language is not about adding a skill to a résumé, but about opening a gateway to another culture.
True flourishing occurs when we engage with things that are valuable for their own sakes. When we stop asking “What is the point?” of a piece of music or a conversation with a loved one, we realize that they are the point. Life is not a training camp for a future state of wellbeing; it is an experience happening in the present.
Liberation comes from the realization that the people and things we love are enough in themselves. They do not necessitate to justify their existence by contributing to our longevity or our productivity. To see life as its own end is the only way to experience it in its fullness.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalized health concerns.
As we continue to integrate technology and data into every facet of our daily routines, the tension between quantification and quality of life will only increase. The next step for those seeking a more authentic existence is to identify the “instruments” in their own lives and consciously return them to being ends in themselves.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the instrumentalisation of wellbeing in the comments below.
