Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Sensible irrationality?

I recently posted on neuroeconomics, which attempts to understand the neural basis for human decision-making. One of the primary motivations of the field is understanding the irrationality of our decisions; i.e. why they are often contrary to the logical choices that would maximize one's personal outcome. Mind Hacks has a post on a recent Scientific American article that discusses "how [some of] our decisions are often irrational in game theory terms, but can still be more beneficial than the supposed rational choice." The article is free, and offers an interesting perspective on "rationality" verus "common sense."

4 comments:

Martin Cooke said...

That argument reminded me of the surprise exam paradox, and I suspect that its "logic" is similarly flawed. Surely 2 cannot really be the logical choice? I'm not challenging the idea that we can benefit by not thinking things through, but perhaps a better argument for that would be the St. Petersburg Paradox?

Anonymous said...

Do you want to become the millionaire? The first, you should have a cheap louis vuitton handbags . louis vuitton handbags on sale could make you appearance more charming and shining. louis vuitton bags cheap series is fascinated by some famous and fashionable people in the world.

Unknown said...

The smart and correct response would be to search elsewhere for that particular Coach bags and many others until you get it and never give up on your dreams. If your dream is to own Coach Hamptons , then make your dreams come true by going online and finding that handbag that you want. You are sure to get a Coach Legacy for u or that Coach Ergo you've dreamt of.


As a member of the Breitling Watches series, the Navitimer World watch composes of a self winding mechanical, uni-directional bezel, cambered sapphire crystal with a stainless steel case, and Montbrillant Datora comes with a strong water resistant capability on Chrono Superocean , reaching 300 meters.

Anonymous said...

To be a adroit human being is to have a amiable of openness to the world, an skill to trust uncertain things beyond your own restrain, that can lead you to be shattered in very extreme circumstances for which you were not to blame. That says something uncommonly impressive relating to the prerequisite of the righteous compulsion: that it is based on a corporation in the up in the air and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a plant than like a treasure, something fairly dainty, but whose acutely item attractiveness is inseparable from that fragility.