Decisions are Not Calculations
Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) was an immensely influential philosopher, known for asserting that decision making is a “leap of faith.” Derrida contends that if everything were already known to inform a decision, then it would not be a decision at all, it would just be applying calculation and reason to arrive at the answer. In other words, a person who knows everything is not making a "decision." Derrida contended that a true decision goes beyond the sum total of the facts. He wrote that "not only must the person taking the decision not know everything…the decision, if there is to be one, must advance towards a future which is not known, which cannot be anticipated." So, decisions require that the person deciding be moved into the ‘unknowability of the future.' Decisions change the future in Unforeseen Ways When we act on a decision, others react to it, and when others act based on our reactions, it causes further actions by others. We cannot foresee all the actions and changes that ripple through the fabric of the future, and cannot predict all outcomes accurately. Acting without full knowledge is inevitable. Thus, we are fooling ourselves if we believe there are clear decision options and justifications. We must act and then we will see what comes next and make our next decision. Decision-Making is Difficult Even renowned figures like Hamlet grapple with the complexities of decision-making. Hamlet seemed pretty stuck – you may recall his soliloquy on “To Be or Not To Be.” There he was frozen with indecisiveness, weighing, and thinking it out excessively. In essence, Derrida’s philosophy urges us to embrace the unknown by taking that leap of faith. To start a new life narrative, through pulls of wonder and curiosity, make a decision. Turn the ship in a new direction, even as painful as it can be to lose the other possibilities when you turn. Afterall, as he puts it “The instant of decision is madness.” Sources: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy at https://iep.utm.edu/jacques-derrida/ https://leepublish.typepad.com/strategicthinking/2019/09/the-instant-of-decision-is-madness.html
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