Some of life’s biggest decisions — having a child, falling in love, going to war — can’t actually be made the way we think decisions are supposed to be made. Not because we’re irrational, but because the only thing that could ever teach us what we needed to know is the experience itself.
Yale philosopher L.A. Paul calls this the epistemic wall: the barrier between who you are now and who you’ll become. And everyone on the other side telling you it’s worth it, that you should absolutely do it, that it changed their life — can’t actually help you. Their preferences have already changed. Acknowledging that might be the most rational thing you can do.
This video The hidden bias in every life-changing decision you make is featured on Big Think.