The Illusion of Choice

I think we consistently mis-define the word “choice”. We assume that making a choice needs to first begin with a strong affinity to the option we choose, that gives us some sense of autonomy. Believing that you’re in control of your life based on your ability to make choices.

But what if choice really is all about taking action? What if the strong affinity does not need to precede choice? What if, when God say we were given the ability to make choice, they really just meant we had to choose to act on something?

Because the truth is, before we make a choice, our brain had long rationalized that one option was preferred for our survival than the other. A proof is that, if you’ve had a traumatic experience with trains, and you were given the option to fly or travel by train, there’s a high chance you won’t choose trains. Given the fact that you did not choose to have the traumatic train experience, then the choice to fly isn’t really a choice, it’s more a response to the trauma you experienced. Trains are not an option.

We’re naturally predisposed to certain options based on our past experiences. Our brains evaluate new information and find relationships with what we already know, and use that to make the best decision possible for our survival at any point in time. Does that really mean we had control over the choice? No.

Another thing to think about; if you have no control over the options to choose from, are you really in control of your life? If you love beef but you’re only provided chicken and fish, there’s no way you can find beef, so you end up choosing fish, can you truly say you have full autonomy over what you eat? Definitely not. Someone controls the options, you just get to act on the one that seems most beneficial to your survival.

So, now what? I think it invites us to really investigate this illusion of choice. What does it really mean when we choose? Is our future then predetermined? If so, who determined it? What is their goal? How does it impact our expectations in life, our goals? Can we truly create happiness for ourselves? Or are we doomed to pendulate between misery and happiness? Is this what life really is about?

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