The Stoic philosophers considered this, though they of course were not software engineers or even in a capitalist world. You can only pursue "arete" (excellenc

The Stoic philosophers considered this, though they of course were not software engineers or even in a capitalist world. You can only pursue "arete" (excellence) under your own criteria. As the Stoics remind us, you don't control the social conditions you live in. You can only do the role you have as best as possible, and that you do control. The job itself may be pointless. You can still try to do it well, and that is the reward.