Why do humans always assuage themselves for their course of action both past and future? Isn't it rational to keep our mind free when we want to know the truth? For instance, if we are not in the mood to give some money to a roadside beggar who we happen to see while our walk-by, what is the first thought that comes to our mind?
"This Guy probably cheats. May be that's why we had not give money."
This line of thinking stresses the fact that Humans, by default, always justify their course of action in favor of themselves. I am not implying that we should have helped that beggar. Rather, I want to enforce the idea that we should arrive at our conclusion rationally.
We should have started off by thinking about pros and cons of giving money to that guy. Then, we should have analysed our state of mind at that particular point of time of begging. This will help in deriving the facts relating to why we have taken that particular course of action (i.e., helped or not). After all this, now we can justify our decision. May be the result would be same but the way we arrived at matters. More importantly, this will help our future course of action now that we have thought over this process.
Now, when I look back at myself a few years back, I had always justified my decisions. I was just being a kid by not taking the rationale route. Now, I promised never. In fact, this decision helped me understood what an asshole I am. It helped me in accepting the fact that I am not perfect. Even though, I am not striving to be one (Mr.Perfect), at least I should not degrade myself hereafter by always justifying myself to be right.
Sorry for my ramblings. I am out of touch with my blogging.
You have to be the Buddha to get rid of all your cognitive biases.
ReplyDeleteBut what about times when we know ourselves that this is a biased decision? At least, in those instances, we shouldn't be reluctant to embrace the correct path. What say?
ReplyDelete