The actual result of mining is defending the network against double-spending (and censorship, to a degree — though this is more fragile). Insofar as you believe

The actual result of mining is defending the network against double-spending (and censorship, to a degree — though this is more fragile). Insofar as you believe that Bitcoin-the-currency is itself a social positive, the mining process has a positive effect. (But also a very meaningful cost, which leads us to a subtler question — is it a net positive?)