When Our Brains Short Circuit
Submitted by AM on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 16:50
Kristof had an interesting article in today's Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/opinion/02kristof.html?_r=1
Perhaps the best explanation yet for why we are all make such foolish decisions. Certainly with a degree in "planning," I should be able to make more rational decisions and be more forward thinking. Perhaps we all should realize that hyperbolic discounting is silly.
Clearly Kurt Godel (umlaut
Clearly Kurt Godel (umlaut over the o) and his ground breaking work on the understanding of formal systems back in 1931 has not been communicated to the general public.
It is not so much we make foolish decisions. It is we don't pay attention to the various levels of our own thoughts are located. Everyday life seems easy enough. It is the inability to think on another level, not fore-thought that is our Raison d'etre. If we could switch levels, we would not be human. You might think it is inconsistent or incomplete thought. If they aren't one or the other, they are not thoughts.
We foolishly think we have a choice in making foolish decisions. We can't have cake and eat it at the same time, but we will try. All living beings are fools, humans are the only ones who think they can do something about it.
I do appreciate your personalization of your post AM.
Petey