IMHO this breaks down into one of two answers: 1) I'm building something that makes a difference (if you think it does). 2) I'm building something that someone

IMHO this breaks down into one of two answers: 1) I'm building something that makes a difference (if you think it does). 2) I'm building something that someone thinks makes a difference, and that person pays me (it's a paycheck). To my mind currently some tech jobs just get caught up in the whirlwind of self-justification, while others you could argue provide real value to people. Which side of that a particular role is on is, I think, largely subjective. So...someone thinks it's worth it to pay you. Maybe you care too; at the least, it puts food on the table because it matters to someone enough to swap money for. That's my 2 cents, but I invite a disagreeing perspective.