Thee article addresses this common question near the end. I like this part.
“We don't demand that chess champions use their skills in something with more real-world applications, or that concert pianists find a more practical outlet for their manual dexterity and attention to detail.”
> “We don't demand that chess champions use their skills in something with more real-world applications, or that concert pianists find a more practical outlet for their manual dexterity and attention to detail.”
Maybe because chess champions and concert pianists don't hoard a significant amount of resources, depriving the rest of society of the means to thrive.
“We don't demand that chess champions use their skills in something with more real-world applications, or that concert pianists find a more practical outlet for their manual dexterity and attention to detail.”