distinctions only matter when the difference recognized makes a difference. Chomsky has described this in saying that a fact worth discussing must be both true *and* important. an unimportant truth needn’t be engaged.

so what’s the difference? what makes a distinction important?

Chomsky again provides the model, in explaining why awareness of the failings of one’s own country is more important than awareness the failings of someone else’s, both failings being equally true. In short, the failings of one’s own country are, politically speaking, within one’s realm of influence. Here, if we borrow from Stephen Covey, we might formulate a general rule: important facts (i.e. distinctions) are those that lie within one’s realm of influence, as a distinct subset of one’s encompassing realm of concern.

All relevant distinctions are thus a product of this more fundamental distinction between influence and concern. Making this distinction is the first step to being something other than an underling, both personally and politically. It is, in fact, a recurrent principle. As progress on all levels occurs in steps, the distinctions that matter are exactly those that pertain to the step you are facing.

so, for example, the distinction between Confucious and Buddha is true in any case, but only matters – is, in other words, only a distinction worth making – to those who might be, for example, in the position to use one or the other of them as an exemplar. otherwise, the point is entirely academic. to put it generally: fruitful distinctions are driven by some basic need. hence THEY say “need facilitates fulfillment,” because need creates the foundation for making important distinctions, and important distinctions fuel the step by step process which alone fulfills.

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