15 Choice: Why Less Is More
Today’s capitalist democracy and its emphasis on consumerism, has led to an explosion of choices that many argue have increased human freedom and happiness. However, consumerism with its endless variety of choices has created a complicated paradox that is difficult to decipher. A vast sea of choices intended to liberate, has in fact enslaved us in a cycle where we are constantly seeking more and finding less satisfaction and meaning in our choices. Furthermore, scientists have begun to discover how an extreme abundance of choices can hamper our ability to make important decisions and lead to anxiety and regret.
Many politicians and economists argue that an increase in choices is …show more content…
These costs are interconnected and support Barry Schwartz’ claim made in his essay, “The Tyranny of Choice” that, “…increased choice can lead to decreased well-being” (801). In the capitalist society the expression ‘time is of the essence’ cannot be underestimated. Every second counts with “the average consumer [making] a couple of thousands of decisions [small or large] daily” (Zeelenberg and Pieters 1). According to Loewenstein the time we spend making decisions takes away from the time we could be using to cultivate the relationships in our lives (3). “Close social relationships” Schwartz argues, are in fact what “binds us rather than liberates us” (805). This contradicts the perception many have that happiness cannot occur as a result of choice limitations when in fact it is what fulfills and nurtures us the most. The second cost, error, is magnified tenfold by the amount of choices made available to the average consumer and the lack of expertise in some instances to make the right decisions (Lowenstein 4). The phenomena that increased choices results in a decrease in efficient decision making is explained by Anastasiya Pocheptsova and her colleagues, in a study they conducted which focuses on two factors that …show more content…
Lars Eighner became homeless in 1988 after losing his job as a mental-hospital attendant, during this challenging time he began dumpster diving and later wrote about his experiences in his essay “On Dumpster Diving.” During his time scavenging the dumpsters he saw how people mindlessly consumed and threw things out. He describes how he learned two very important lessons from being a scavenger, “the first is to take what I can use and let the rest go by” and “the second…of the transience of material being (386). These are important lessons, reminiscent to the teachings of Buddha which encourage the practice of material detachment. It is amazing how the paradox that says less is more promotes a peacefulness many have forgotten in the turmoil of life. Eighner states how he has entered a “healthy state of mind” (387), even though he does not have the same abundance of choices, and must extricate from the dumpsters the remains of what we have thrown away to make room for more. It is interesting how people might view his situation and feel sorry, while he observes those in society “who have confounded themselves with the objects they grasp and who nightly scavenge the cable channels looking for they know not what”, unfulfilled, anxious and full of regret and remarks,
Today’s capitalist democracy and its emphasis on consumerism, has led to an explosion of choices that many argue have increased human freedom and happiness. However, consumerism with its endless variety of choices has created a complicated paradox that is difficult to decipher. A vast sea of choices intended to liberate, has in fact enslaved us in a cycle where we are constantly seeking more and finding less satisfaction and meaning in our choices. Furthermore, scientists have begun to discover how an extreme abundance of choices can hamper our ability to make important decisions and lead to anxiety and regret.
Many politicians and economists argue that an increase in choices is …show more content…
These costs are interconnected and support Barry Schwartz’ claim made in his essay, “The Tyranny of Choice” that, “…increased choice can lead to decreased well-being” (801). In the capitalist society the expression ‘time is of the essence’ cannot be underestimated. Every second counts with “the average consumer [making] a couple of thousands of decisions [small or large] daily” (Zeelenberg and Pieters 1). According to Loewenstein the time we spend making decisions takes away from the time we could be using to cultivate the relationships in our lives (3). “Close social relationships” Schwartz argues, are in fact what “binds us rather than liberates us” (805). This contradicts the perception many have that happiness cannot occur as a result of choice limitations when in fact it is what fulfills and nurtures us the most. The second cost, error, is magnified tenfold by the amount of choices made available to the average consumer and the lack of expertise in some instances to make the right decisions (Lowenstein 4). The phenomena that increased choices results in a decrease in efficient decision making is explained by Anastasiya Pocheptsova and her colleagues, in a study they conducted which focuses on two factors that …show more content…
Lars Eighner became homeless in 1988 after losing his job as a mental-hospital attendant, during this challenging time he began dumpster diving and later wrote about his experiences in his essay “On Dumpster Diving.” During his time scavenging the dumpsters he saw how people mindlessly consumed and threw things out. He describes how he learned two very important lessons from being a scavenger, “the first is to take what I can use and let the rest go by” and “the second…of the transience of material being (386). These are important lessons, reminiscent to the teachings of Buddha which encourage the practice of material detachment. It is amazing how the paradox that says less is more promotes a peacefulness many have forgotten in the turmoil of life. Eighner states how he has entered a “healthy state of mind” (387), even though he does not have the same abundance of choices, and must extricate from the dumpsters the remains of what we have thrown away to make room for more. It is interesting how people might view his situation and feel sorry, while he observes those in society “who have confounded themselves with the objects they grasp and who nightly scavenge the cable channels looking for they know not what”, unfulfilled, anxious and full of regret and remarks,