

Grappling With Life's "Wild Problems"
23 snips Aug 31, 2022
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.
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.
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.