[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.92,0:00:03.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was preparing for this talk,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.17,0:00:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went to search for a couple of quotes
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.15,0:00:06.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I can share with you.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.99,0:00:09.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Good news: I found three
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.16,0:00:10.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I particularly liked,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.99,0:00:14.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first by Samuel Johnson, who said,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.47,0:00:16.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When making your choice in life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.71,0:00:19.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do not forget to live,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.47,0:00:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the second by Aeschylus, who reminded us that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.00,0:00:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"happiness is a choice that requires effort,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.30,0:00:30.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the third is one by Groucho Marx
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.83,0:00:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who said, "I wouldn't want to choose to belong
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.92,0:00:39.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to any club that would have me as a member."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.25,0:00:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, bad news:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.32,0:00:43.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't know which one of these quotes
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.43,0:00:46.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to choose and share with you.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.18,0:00:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The sweet anxiety of choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.40,0:00:53.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In today's times of post-industrial capitalism,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.45,0:00:57.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choice, together with individual freedom
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.11,0:00:59.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the idea of self-making,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.97,0:01:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been elevated to an ideal.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.50,0:01:07.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, together with this, we also have a belief
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.39,0:01:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in endless progress.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.16,0:01:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the underside of this ideology
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.91,0:01:16.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been an increase of anxiety,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.44,0:01:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feelings of guilt,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.51,0:01:22.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feelings of being inadequate,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.22,0:01:26.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feeling that we are failing in our choices.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.95,0:01:30.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sadly, this ideology of individual choice
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.95,0:01:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has prevented us from thinking about social changes.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.40,0:01:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It appears that this ideology was actually
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.32,0:01:42.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very efficient in pacifying us
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.00,0:01:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as political and social thinkers.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.80,0:01:47.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead of making social critiques,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.11,0:01:50.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are more and more engaging in self-critique,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.87,0:01:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes to the point of self-destruction.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.12,0:01:57.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, how come that ideology of choice
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.87,0:01:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is still so powerful,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.45,0:02:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even among people who have
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.55,0:02:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not many things to choose among?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.66,0:02:08.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How come that even people who are poor
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.23,0:02:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very much still identify with the idea of choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.62,0:02:14.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the kind of rational idea of choice
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.69,0:02:17.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which we embrace?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.32,0:02:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the ideology of choice is very successful
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.34,0:02:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in opening for us a space to think
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.32,0:02:28.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about some imagined future.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.99,0:02:31.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me give you an example.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.00,0:02:32.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My friend Manya,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.91,0:02:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when she was a student at university in California,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.96,0:02:37.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was earning money
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.66,0:02:40.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by working for a car dealer.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.72,0:02:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Manya, when she encountered
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.53,0:02:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the typical customer, would debate with him
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.39,0:02:47.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about his lifestyle,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.23,0:02:49.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how much he wants to spend,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.96,0:02:51.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how many children he has,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.70,0:02:53.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what does he need the car for?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.97,0:02:56.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They would usually come to a good conclusion
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.66,0:02:59.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what would be a perfect car.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.21,0:03:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, before Manya's customer would go home
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.70,0:03:05.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and think things through,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.14,0:03:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she would say to him,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.96,0:03:10.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The car that you are buying now is perfect,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.74,0:03:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in a few year's time,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.77,0:03:15.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when your kids will be already out of the house,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.40,0:03:18.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you will have a little bit more money,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.37,0:03:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that other car will be ideal.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.40,0:03:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what you are buying now is great."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.94,0:03:27.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the majority of Manya's customers
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.29,0:03:28.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who came back the next day
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.91,0:03:31.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bought that other car,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.74,0:03:33.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the car they did not need,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.80,0:03:36.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the car that cost far too much money.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.83,0:03:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Manya became so successful in selling cars
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.77,0:03:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that soon she moved on to selling airplanes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.67,0:03:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.26,0:03:51.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And knowing so much about\Nthe psychology of people
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.35,0:03:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepared her well for her current job,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.92,0:03:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that of a psychoanalyst.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.76,0:04:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, why were Manya's customers so irrational?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.28,0:04:03.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Manya's success was that she was able
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.78,0:04:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to open in their heads an image
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.70,0:04:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of an idealized future,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.28,0:04:12.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an image of themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.19,0:04:16.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are already more successful, freer,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.42,0:04:18.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for them, choosing that other car
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.67,0:04:21.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was as if they are coming closer to this ideal
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.73,0:04:26.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which it was as if Manya already saw them.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.58,0:04:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we rarely make really totally rational choices.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.98,0:04:34.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Choices are influenced by our unconscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.56,0:04:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by our community.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.40,0:04:38.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're often choosing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.33,0:04:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by guessing, what would other people
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.48,0:04:43.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,think about our choice?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.47,0:04:44.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also we are choosing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.67,0:04:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by looking at what others are choosing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.04,0:04:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're also guessing what is\Nsocially acceptable choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.84,0:04:54.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, because of this, we actually
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.92,0:04:56.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even after we have already chosen,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.80,0:04:58.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like bought a car,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.56,0:05:01.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,endlessly read reviews about cars,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.71,0:05:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as if we still want to convince ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.07,0:05:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we made the right choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.67,0:05:09.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, choices are anxiety-provoking.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.87,0:05:12.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are linked to risks, losses.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.95,0:05:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are highly unpredictable.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.31,0:05:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, because of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.42,0:05:19.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people have now more and more problems
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.92,0:05:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they are not choosing anything.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.38,0:05:27.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not long ago, I was at a wedding reception,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.21,0:05:29.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I met a young, beautiful woman
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.51,0:05:34.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who immediately started telling\Nme about her anxiety over choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.14,0:05:36.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said to me, "I needed one month
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.11,0:05:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to decide which dress to wear."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.15,0:05:41.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then she said, "For weeks I was researching
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.68,0:05:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which hotel to stay for this one night.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.94,0:05:49.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And now, I need to choose a sperm donor."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.43,0:05:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.20,0:05:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I looked at this woman in shock.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.70,0:05:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Sperm donor? What's the rush?"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.74,0:06:02.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said, "I'm turning 40 at the end of this year,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.91,0:06:07.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've been so bad in choosing men in my life."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.74,0:06:12.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now choice, because it's linked to risk,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.14,0:06:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is anxiety-provoking,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.42,0:06:17.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was already the famous
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.28,0:06:19.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.87,0:06:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who pointed out that anxiety
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.58,0:06:25.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is linked to the possibility of possibility.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.85,0:06:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we think today that we can prevent these risks.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.28,0:06:33.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have endless market analysis,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.36,0:06:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,projections of the future earnings.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.87,0:06:38.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even with market, which is about chance,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.57,0:06:42.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,randomness, we think we can predict rationally
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.71,0:06:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's going.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.43,0:06:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, chance is actually becoming very traumatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.28,0:06:52.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Last year, my friend Bernard Harcourt
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.17,0:06:56.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the University of Chicago organized an event,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.45,0:06:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a conference on the idea of chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.84,0:07:01.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He and I were together on the panel,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.93,0:07:04.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just before delivering our papers —
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.45,0:07:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we didn't know each other's papers —
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.80,0:07:09.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we decided to take chance seriously.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.30,0:07:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we informed our audience
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.14,0:07:13.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what they will just now hear
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.49,0:07:15.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be a random paper,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.50,0:07:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a mixture of the two papers
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.67,0:07:21.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which we didn't know what each was writing.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.54,0:07:25.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we delivered the conference in such a way.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.72,0:07:27.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bernard read his first paragraph,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.95,0:07:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I read my first paragraph,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.07,0:07:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bernard read his second paragraph,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.28,0:07:33.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I read my second paragraph,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.76,0:07:37.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this way towards the end of our papers.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.38,0:07:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you will be surprised
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.26,0:07:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a majority of our audience
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.44,0:07:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,did not think that what they'd just listened to
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.19,0:07:47.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a completely random paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.47,0:07:49.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They couldn't believe that
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.42,0:07:51.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,speaking from the position of authority
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.94,0:07:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like two professors we were,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.82,0:07:56.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we would take chance seriously.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.89,0:07:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They thought we prepared the papers together
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.48,0:08:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and were just joking that it's random.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.95,0:08:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we live in times with a lot of information,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.12,0:08:08.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,big data,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.71,0:08:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of knowledge about the insides of our bodies.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.72,0:08:13.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We decoded our genome.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.46,0:08:16.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know about our brains more than before.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.57,0:08:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But surprisingly, people are more and more
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.20,0:08:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turning a blind eye in front of this knowledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.64,0:08:28.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ignorance and denial are on the rise.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.63,0:08:31.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, in regard to the current economic crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.85,0:08:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we think that we will just wake up again
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.50,0:08:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and everything will be the same as before,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.72,0:08:39.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and no political or social changes are needed.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.98,0:08:42.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In regard to ecological crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.23,0:08:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we think nothing needs to be done just now,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.35,0:08:48.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or others need to act before us.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.25,0:08:51.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or even when ecological crisis already happens,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.55,0:08:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a catastrophe in Fukushima,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.88,0:08:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often we have people living in the same environment
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.70,0:08:58.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the same amount of information,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.52,0:09:02.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and half of them will be anxious about radiation
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.21,0:09:05.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and half of them will ignore it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.53,0:09:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, psychoanalysts know very well
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.34,0:09:10.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that people surprisingly don't have
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.82,0:09:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,passion for knowledge
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.61,0:09:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but passion for ignorance.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.69,0:09:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what does that mean?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.17,0:09:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's say when we are facing
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.99,0:09:21.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a life-threatening illness,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.78,0:09:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of people don't want to know that.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.99,0:09:28.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They'd rather prefer denying the illness,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.39,0:09:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is why it's not so wise to inform them
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.66,0:09:33.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they don't ask.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.37,0:09:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Surprisingly, research shows that sometimes
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.80,0:09:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who deny their illness
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.64,0:09:41.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,live longer than those who are rationally choosing
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.56,0:09:43.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the best treatment.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.100,0:09:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this ignorance, however,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.12,0:09:50.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not very helpful on the level of the social.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.85,0:09:54.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we are ignorant about where we are heading,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.18,0:09:58.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of social damage can be caused.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.36,0:10:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, on top of facing ignorance,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.44,0:10:02.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are also facing today
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.68,0:10:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some kind of an obviousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.84,0:10:07.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, it was French philosopher
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.97,0:10:10.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Louis Althusser who pointed out
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.08,0:10:12.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that ideology functions in such a way
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.64,0:10:16.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it creates a veil of obviousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.51,0:10:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before we do any social critique,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.24,0:10:24.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is necessary really to lift that veil of obviousness
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.63,0:10:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to think through a little bit differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.96,0:10:29.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we go back to this ideology
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.100,0:10:32.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of individual, rational choice
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.53,0:10:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we often embrace,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.86,0:10:36.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's necessary precisely here
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.84,0:10:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to lift this obviousness
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.16,0:10:42.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to think a little bit differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.30,0:10:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now for me, a question often is
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.26,0:10:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why we still embrace this idea of a self-made man
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.86,0:10:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which capitalism relied from its beginning?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.40,0:10:55.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we think that we are really such masters
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.88,0:10:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our lives that we can rationally
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.70,0:11:01.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,make the best ideal choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.16,0:11:04.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we don't accept losses and risks?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.39,0:11:07.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for me, it's very shocking to\Nsee sometimes very poor people,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.67,0:11:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for example, not supporting the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.02,0:11:13.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the rich being taxed more.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.63,0:11:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quite often here they still identify
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.68,0:11:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a certain kind of a lottery mentality.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.28,0:11:21.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, maybe they don't think that they will make it
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.56,0:11:22.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the future, but maybe they think,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.96,0:11:26.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my son might become the next Bill Gates.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.15,0:11:29.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And who would want to tax one's son?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.37,0:11:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or, a question for me is also,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.20,0:11:35.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why would people who have no health insurance
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.58,0:11:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not embrace universal healthcare?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.56,0:11:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes they don't embrace it,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.09,0:11:42.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,again identifying with the idea of choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.91,0:11:45.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they have nothing to choose from.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.47,0:11:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Margaret Thatcher famously said
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.92,0:11:52.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there is nothing like a society.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.55,0:11:56.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Society doesn't exist, it is only individuals
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.33,0:11:58.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and their families.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.13,0:12:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sadly, this ideology still functions very well,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.26,0:12:05.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is why people who are poor might feel
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.55,0:12:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ashamed for their poverty.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.47,0:12:09.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We might endlessly feel guilty that we are
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.73,0:12:11.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not making the right choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.85,0:12:14.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's why we didn't succeed.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.14,0:12:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are anxious that we are not good enough.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.67,0:12:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why we work very hard,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.60,0:12:21.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,long hours at the workplace
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.14,0:12:25.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and equally long hours on remaking ourselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.58,0:12:27.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, when we are anxious over choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.99,0:12:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes we easily give our power of choice away.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.42,0:12:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We identify with the guru
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.22,0:12:35.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who tells us what to do,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.50,0:12:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,self-help therapist,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.14,0:12:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or we embrace a totalitarian leader
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.92,0:12:43.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who appears to have no doubts about choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.71,0:12:45.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who sort of knows.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.79,0:12:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, often people ask me,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.57,0:12:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"What did you learn by studying choice?"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.94,0:12:54.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there is an important message that I did learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.11,0:12:56.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When thinking about choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.60,0:13:01.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I stopped taking choices too seriously, personally.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.56,0:13:04.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, I realized a lot of choice I make
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.18,0:13:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not rational.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.64,0:13:07.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's linked to my unconscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.54,0:13:09.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my guesses of what others are choosing,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.74,0:13:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or what is a socially embraced choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.39,0:13:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also embrace the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.69,0:13:17.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we should go beyond
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.33,0:13:19.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thinking about individual choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.25,0:13:22.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's very important to rethink social choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.91,0:13:26.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since this ideology of individual\Nchoice has pacified us.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.61,0:13:29.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It really prevented us to think about social change.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.75,0:13:33.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We spend so much time\Nchoosing things for ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.48,0:13:35.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and barely reflect on
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.25,0:13:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,communal choices we can make.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.48,0:13:39.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we should not forget that choice
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.18,0:13:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is always linked to change.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.86,0:13:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can make individual changes,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.68,0:13:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we can make social changes.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.86,0:13:49.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can choose to have more wolves.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.63,0:13:52.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can choose to change our environment
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.39,0:13:54.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to have more bees.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.82,0:13:59.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can choose to have different rating agencies.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.11,0:14:01.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can choose to control corporations
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.57,0:14:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of allowing corporations to control us.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.44,0:14:08.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have a possibility to make changes.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.85,0:14:12.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I started with a quote from Samuel Johnson,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.13,0:14:14.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who said that when we make choice in life,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.86,0:14:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we shouldn't forget to live.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.45,0:14:19.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, you can see
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.67,0:14:21.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did have a choice
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.18,0:14:22.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to choose one of the three quotes
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.47,0:14:26.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with which I wanted to start my lecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.49,0:14:28.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did have a choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.39,0:14:30.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as nations, as people,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.70,0:14:32.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have choices too to rethink
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.97,0:14:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in what kind of society we want to live in the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.28,0:14:38.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.33,0:14:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)