EconTalk L.A. Paul on Vampires, Life Choices, and Transformation
May 4, 2020
L.A. Paul, a Yale philosopher and author of "Transformative Experience," dives into the intriguing world of life-altering choices. She explores the philosophical challenges of irreversible transformations, such as becoming a vampire or choosing parenthood, and discusses the complexities of identity and decision-making. Through thought experiments and examples, L.A. emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal experiences and navigating moral dilemmas with epistemic humility. Her insights unravel how our experiences shape our values and self-perception in profound ways.
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The Vampire Dilemma
- L.A. Paul uses the hypothetical scenario of being offered the choice to become a vampire.
- This illustrates the difficulty of making irreversible decisions with unknowable outcomes.
Limits of Traditional Decision-Making
- Evaluating transformative experiences, like becoming a vampire, is difficult due to unknowable outcomes.
- Standard decision-making tools, like expected utility and social science research, are inadequate.
The Problem of Personal Transformation
- Transformative experiences present unique challenges because they change who you are.
- This makes it difficult to rely on others' experiences, as your values and preferences may change drastically.