Join economist Russ Roberts, author of "Wild Problems," as he uncovers the flaws in conventional decision-making when facing life's toughest choices. He explores the transformative nature of decisions like marriage and parenthood, highlighting the emotional maze they create. Delve into the significance of tradition as a moral compass, the profound nature of covenants in relationships, and Aristotle's views on flourishing. Russ emphasizes that navigating uncertainty requires reflection on personal values and a willingness to experiment.
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Wild Problems Defined
Wild problems are significant life decisions like marriage, kids, or career, where standard pro/con lists fail.
These decisions transform us, making pre-decision analysis less effective, like choosing to become a vampire.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Darwin's Marriage Dilemma
Darwin used a pro/con list to decide on marriage, but the cons seemed to prevail.
Despite this, he married, suggesting deeper factors than his analysis captured.
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The Vampire Analogy
Wild problems are difficult because we change after making the decision.
We don't know our future selves' preferences, making pre-decision analysis flawed.
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In 'Transformative Experience', L.A. Paul argues that certain life choices, such as deciding to become a parent, converting to a religion, or medically altering one's physical and mental capacities, are transformative experiences that cannot be assessed in advance. These experiences change the person in both epistemic and personal ways, making it impossible to make fully informed decisions based on current preferences and values. Paul uses classic philosophical examples and recent work in decision theory, cognitive science, and the philosophy of mind to develop a rigorous account of how we should understand and approach such transformative decisions.
Wild Problems
A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us
Russ Roberts
In 'Wild Problems,' Russ Roberts addresses the big, uncertain decisions in life—such as who to marry, whether to have children, where to move, and how to forge a life well-lived—that cannot be solved using data, science, or traditional rational approaches. He suggests focusing less on the path that promises the most happiness and more on figuring out who you actually want to be. Roberts draws on the experiences of great artists, writers, and scientists to lay out strategies for reducing fear and the loss of control when facing these 'wild problems.' He argues that life should be experienced as a mystery rather than a problem to be solved, and he critiques the idea of relying solely on cost-benefit analysis and utilitarianism for making life's major decisions.
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle
The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life[1][2][4].
How Adam Smith can change your life
Russ Roberts
As an economist, Russ Roberts has been taught to approach decision-making by conducting an analysis, weighing tradeoffs, and then rationally budgeting resources to get the most bang for his buck. But as he explains in his new book, Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us, he found this approach woefully inadequate for grappling with life's biggest decisions — things like figuring out whether to get married or how to live a meaningful life.
Today on the show, Russ and I delve into why the pros and cons approach to decision-making is inadequate when facing what he calls "wild problems." Russ explains that what makes life's big decisions so difficult to deal with is the fact that we don't know what they'll be like before we make them, the decisions themselves will transform us into different people, and their effects can be permanent, making such decisions akin to choosing to become a vampire. From there we turn to strategies for dealing with the inherent uncertainty around wild problems, including looking beyond basic happiness, considering tradition, and trying things out by experience.
The Art of Manliness 
