How to make a hard decision

Self-Authorship

The concept of self-authorship emphasizes the power of individuals to shape their own lives through choices and commitments. Ruth Chang outlines a process for making tough decisions, starting with understanding what truly matters and evaluating the pros and cons of each option. However, she notes that traditional decision-making steps often lead to frustration because they don't account for the parity between choices, where no option is definitively better than the other 1. Instead, Chang suggests embracing the idea that hard choices allow us to define our own values and become the authors of our lives 2.

Instead of looking out into the world and trying to discover some non-existent fact about which path of life is best for you, you actually get to create that value for yourself by committing to things.

--- Ruth Chang

This approach transforms decision-making from a search for the "right" choice into an opportunity for personal growth and self-realization.

   

Enlightenment's Influence

The Enlightenment's impact on decision theory highlights the limitations of a purely scientific approach to personal choices. Ruth Chang argues that while the Enlightenment brought valuable scientific advancements, it also promoted a view that all truths are external facts to be discovered. This perspective works well in science but falls short in personal decision-making, where many options are equally valid 3.

The truth about what we should do is not just found out there in the world, but in us.

--- Ruth Chang

Chang emphasizes that hard choices are moments where individuals can take charge of their lives, as the world often presents options that are on a par, requiring us to look inward for guidance.