Yes, "useless" seems the wrong sort of term. Memorizing stats regarding my favorite videogame is pretty useless. But, certain sources of knowledge that do not

Yes, "useless" seems the wrong sort of term. Memorizing stats regarding my favorite videogame is pretty useless. But, certain sources of knowledge that do not directly translate to food and shelter turn out be greatly advance the human race, such as the presocratics positing an unchanging law governing reality which eventually led to modern science. What is actually meant is trying to understand useful phenomena at a higher abstract level, or asking significant questions, i.e. what is the largest number? that lead to deeper insights into reality.