The Janus Contradiction
When is a decision good? When you make it, or after you know the outcome?
Imagine that you are driving a car on a highway, and you are about to overtake a slow truck driving uphill. You indicate, steer away slightly to see the incoming lane. It is clear. Looks like you can accelerate and overtake before a car shows up on the hill. You take a decision to go overtake, and put your foot on the pedal.
Pause.
Was that a good decision?
Let us assume that there was no incoming vehicle as you accelerated uphill and you overtook the truck successfully. Would you consider your decision wise?
What if a fast car shows up halfway in, and you are caught in a position that forces you to brake, and duck behind the truck narrowly avoiding a collision. Would you consider your decision to overtake to have been a wise one?
The Janus Contradiction
We make decisions every day — from small unconscious decisions on our morning routines, to big life decisions like a career move, to critical life decisions like whether or not to take a loved one…
