The Hedonistic Path
I read an interesting quote by Cennydd Bowles about a question worth asking yourself when you need to make a decision:
“‘What experience would you enjoy more?’ Since we can’t beta-test major life choices, we need heuristics on what to do. Although there’s more to life than hedonism, choosing a path that leads to more enjoyment and happiness is surely a sound principle.”
I really love that. Because you can’t take both paths — at least not with the major events in life — but you can make a list between two choice and choose the one that leads to more enjoyment and happiness. To go to this college or that one. (College is on our minds.) To live here or there. What is the short-term happiness vs. the long-term happiness.
It’s a good rule.
2 comments
This is why I love T-charts! We do T-charts for pretty much every major (and some minor) decision. I usually do one comparing all the pros and then one comparing all the cons. It is so simple yet so frequently eye-opening. And I’m all for going for what’s most happiness-making whenever possible!
I like this. Although I think we need to recognise that sometimes we just don’t know what the best thing will be, and all we can do is make the best decision we can at the time. But then, simply making a choice is sometimes the best choice, too, because the alternative is inaction and confusion!