- September 14th, 2023, 6:14 am
#446601
This topic is about the September 2023 Philosophy Book of the Month, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
2114557-William-Shakespeare-Quote-What-a-piece-of-work-is-a-man-How-noble (1).jpg (655.12 KiB) Viewed 3233 times
Shakespeare's Hamlet marvels at the beauty, reason, and nobility inherent in man, praising human faculties and our capacity for god-like apprehension. Yet, the writings in Predictably Irrational present us with a stark contrast to this idealistic view. The book delves into the complex tapestry of human decisions, revealing a consistent pattern of irrationality even when we believe we're making purely logical choices.
This divergence from Shakespeare's romanticized view of man to our modern understanding of cognitive biases and irrational behaviors brings forth a profound philosophical question. If man is indeed so "noble in reason", why does he frequently act against his best interests? Why, even with the vast cognitive faculties, do we often fall prey to predictable irrationalities?
The Ancient Greeks, especially Socrates, advocated for the idea that "To know the good is to do the good." Under this premise, if humans truly understand what is beneficial, they will inevitably act upon it. However, contemporary research, as outlined in the book, suggests that even with knowledge, humans often act irrationally.
So, where does this leave us in the grand tapestry of understanding human nature? Are we, as Hamlet suggests, the "paragon of animals", or are we creatures continually battling our own irrational tendencies, no matter how much we know?
Can the "paragon of animals", with all its admirable faculties, ever truly overcome its inherent irrationality?
”What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals." – from Act II, scene 2, of Hamlet(Location 167 – Kindle Version)
Shakespeare's Hamlet marvels at the beauty, reason, and nobility inherent in man, praising human faculties and our capacity for god-like apprehension. Yet, the writings in Predictably Irrational present us with a stark contrast to this idealistic view. The book delves into the complex tapestry of human decisions, revealing a consistent pattern of irrationality even when we believe we're making purely logical choices.
This divergence from Shakespeare's romanticized view of man to our modern understanding of cognitive biases and irrational behaviors brings forth a profound philosophical question. If man is indeed so "noble in reason", why does he frequently act against his best interests? Why, even with the vast cognitive faculties, do we often fall prey to predictable irrationalities?
The Ancient Greeks, especially Socrates, advocated for the idea that "To know the good is to do the good." Under this premise, if humans truly understand what is beneficial, they will inevitably act upon it. However, contemporary research, as outlined in the book, suggests that even with knowledge, humans often act irrationally.
So, where does this leave us in the grand tapestry of understanding human nature? Are we, as Hamlet suggests, the "paragon of animals", or are we creatures continually battling our own irrational tendencies, no matter how much we know?
Can the "paragon of animals", with all its admirable faculties, ever truly overcome its inherent irrationality?
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”
– William James
– William James
- By Sy Borg
- By thrasymachus