Choice – An Overrated Paradox or the Key to Happiness, Fulfilment and Morality?

The Philosophy of Choice
“Choice” might sound like a simple everyday act—picking a meal, a career, a partner—but in philosophy it becomes a pathway into some of the deeper questions. Think of it as the intersection where freedom, responsibility, identity, free will and morality all collide.

Definition of choice is simply an act of choosing between two or more possibilities. It is therefore a prerequisite to have several options or opportunities to choose. Without options, there is no choice.

Our Cultural View on Choice
In our so-called Western culture, it is an established view that more choice is better than no (or less) choice. The latter lets us find a deterministic world, where one situation is given, defining our situations and prospects. Contrary to this, we are currently living in a culture which worships choice and opportunity and from the cradle to the grave we are confronted with a world full of options. Schools ask students to choose subjects, activities and hobbies; young people have a vast palette of choices from study courses to professions to enter into; and this continues throughout adulthood, where we can choose partners, sometimes repeatedly, careers, locations, lifestyles and much more. Retail businesses act on this notion by providing as many choices of the same product as possible. TV and entertainment channels offer options so plentiful; it becomes overwhelming. If the notion is correct, that as more choice we have, as happier we should be, then why are we living in a time where dissatisfaction, unhappiness and depression has risen dramatically?

The Paradox of Choice
The Psychologist Barry Schwartz describes in his book “The Paradox of Choice” the issue that as more choices people have, as less likely they are comfortable to make a choice. Too many options stifle choices to such a degree that people do willingly lose highly beneficial outcomes. Why is this? With choice comes responsibility, potential regret and associated self-blame. Guilt and regret only can occur when we believe we had choices.

The act of choosing itself is somewhat stressful and laborious. It demands full attention, cognitive engagement and predictive, estimating thoughts and a degree of risk taking.

The Lack of Choice
The lack of choice is not a pathway to bliss and happiness either. We are simply unable to be proud of something we have not chosen. The wealth or business which you have inherited rather than generated would be one such example.

Choices as a Mean to Personality, Identity and Morality
We consider the many choices a person has to make as the result of his/her identity or personality. Somebody who made “bad” choices and therefore suffers only poor outcomes, is considered responsible for those outcomes (e.g. criminals in prisons etc.). On the other hand, people with a history of good choices are seen as well adapted, smart and of good standing. Our question in this context should be, are we fully responsible for our own choices, bad or good? As so often, we reach the topic of free will and cognitive capacity.

So, what do we need to make good choices? Insight, some knowledge and good judgement would be beneficial to make good choices. But is this all? What is the role of our emotions, risk preparedness and courage? What is the role of upbringing, sound guidance, the holding of good values and/or a good sense of self protection and the ability for gratification delay and discipline?

Psychologist and some philosophers argue that choices made entirely on an emotional basis are more likely to achieve a poor outcome. Living according to good, proven values seem to provide better, healthier outcomes. But is this so? Can we be rational enough and what if we have chosen or accepted poor values?

And finally, can we choose to be good, to be moral and ethical? Or is it entirely in our upbringing and conditioned learning history, which values we chose and finally live?

Some Philosophers on Choice
· Aristotle: Choice is a deliberate desire, making us responsible for our character and shaping our destiny, contrasting with mere chance.

· Stoics (Epictetus, Seneca): Philosophy helps us make right choices by cultivating reason and virtue, distinguishing what we control (our judgments) from external events.

· Søren Kierkegaard: Choice involves a terrifying, subjective leap into the unknown, defining individual meaning through radical freedom and responsibility.

· Baruch Spinoza: Denied free will, seeing all choices as determined by necessity, yet argued true "freedom" is achieved by understanding and accepting this necessity.

Now it is up to you to choose the questions for this discussion… 😊