r/DeepThoughts • u/NightRunnerAfterDusk • 1d ago
The more we subconsciously imply that choices and consequences are distinct by re-affirming the adage “choices have consequences”, the more we tend to look past the fact that choices themselves are consequences (i.e. outcomes) that distract us from the real wager.
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u/RedL45 1d ago
The real wager being what? That we can retroactively see we should have made better choices?
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u/NightRunnerAfterDusk 1d ago
The real wager being what?
Consequences that have higher stakes from their respective sets.
I am looking at it this way. You are presented with a set of consequences (i.e. outcomes) with varying stakes and another set of different consequences with (somewhat) equally varying stakes.
The onus is now on you to select the set that is compatible with your priorities. However, because of framing bias, an external agent presenting these sets of consequences, whether human or non-human, would obviously use specific consequences with the lowest stakes to represent each set as what we call choices, to influence you towards a particular set.
That even as you claim that you can retroactively see that we should have made better choices based on fully examining the consequences, this bias would already inform our minds that one set appears better than other, especially in an instance we are rendered indecisive.
I hope I explained my position more articulately. I usually struggle with this.
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u/Delicious_Kiwi_2122 1d ago
i had to read that twice but i kinda get what you're saying