CHOOSE
What to Choose?
To choose is to pick from a number of possible alternatives. Decide what it is you want to choose – does that sound like a contradiction in terms? Even if it does, it is not – it is rather a recognition of different purposes. Decisions are distinct from choices, in that a decision involves resolution of uncertainty, whereas a choice requires selection between options – one decision could be “not to choose” and one choice could be “not to decide”. Before choosing, clarify the relevant set.
Why to Choose?
One penchant of rationalists and action-heroes is to “make choices count”. If the action lies in the future however, changing circumstances may modify or nullify the choice anyway – hence the advice to “only cross that bridge when you come to it”. On the other hand, some actions require planning and resources, which are best settled in advance – hence the advice “to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed”. Decide for yourself.
When to Choose?
There is no magic moment that can assure that you are making the right selection or that the results wanted will occur. Sometimes, when to choose is predetermined by the way a process or situation is structured – there may be a sequence of steps or conditions that preclude a choice point. It is possible to “decide ahead of time” what your will pick, but the actual choice may be made or changed on the spur of the moment.
Whether to Choose?
Many people have a “naturalistic” notion about circumstances – it is a form of fatalism that precludes choices through habituation and tradition. In other cases it is recognized that a choice is possible, but many are reluctant to make it – by not choosing they hope to “keep their options open” or “not be manipulative” when it is felt this is appropriate. So you can decide “not to choose” – unfortunately there are no guarantees either way.
How to Choose?
A variety of methodologies have been recommended, some formal, others “rule of thumb”. My best advice in this regard is to follow Herbert Simon’s satisficing principle: try to make a choice that is “good enough” for the task/situation at hand, always keeping in mind that there is neither the time nor the cognitive resources to gather and process the comprehensive information needed to enumerate all the alternatives or pick the right one.
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