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The Paradox of Choice and the pianist [spoiler]

posted 17 years ago by josei09
9 replies | jump to latest

Does having more choice bring more happiness? You may think that it does - since having more things to choose from implies more freedom to choose what is best for you. Barry Schwartz, Erich Fromm and the pianist from the movie show us that it doesn't.

Schwartz in his conference "The paradox of choice" (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6127548813950043200&q=engedu), describes several experiments he has made in various environments, say supermarkets, where he has people choose among three kinds of a certain product on some occasions, and at other times he has them choose among dozens of kinds. He finds that having more choice increases anguish in not being sure about what to choose, and more anxiety afterwards because of doubts about having really chosen the best option. And the more expensive the item, the greater the anguish.

Erich Fromm in his book "Fear of freedom" also deals indirectly with the paradox of choice. He explains the existence of religions and of authoritarian regimes; some people actually do not like to be free to choose, that's why they submit to religious or other authorities.

But the best demostration is from our pianist in his last dialogue with his friend -something like: "Where does it end - the city? which girl? which job? which street? My piano has 88 keys, and if it had a million I wouldn't be able to make any music. What music, what life, could I make in an infinite city?"

Given these arguments, would you like to be less free to choose? Do we really need 99 television channels and about as many types of bottled plain water?.

[–] lancierul 17 years ago

It takes practice and failures, but one must learn to choose only one option. Enought patience and Devotion to the cause and you'll get something. In the end, it will not even matter if it's the best choice or not. It's the choice you took. You must support your option, till the end. I guess, in this case one could say, more is less.
I envy, though i know it's only a dream of a movie, i very much envy such a character. He totally lives a life of his one, solitutde isn't a burden, it's simply a characteristic.
I admire his ending. Although caused by fear, his reluctance to leave the ship, was in the end the most powerful decision he could take.
I, in his shoes, would have walked in the unknown, and would have been lost, for ever, into the unknown.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

I, in his shoes, would have walked in the unknown, and would have been lost, for ever, into the unknown.

I'm not so sure. If you were so unusual and exceptional character like him, you would make unusual, exceptional and different decisions. But you look at life from shoes of a person who hasn't spent whole life on a ship, and most likely (my apologies if I'm wrong) a person who isn't such a unique talent for something like he was for playing piano; that's completely different point of view, from a completely differently developed personality and therefore completely different decisions.

[–] josei09 17 years ago

Thanks for answering Lancierul - I also sometimes envy people like the pianist who choose to have less choices in life - for instance those that go to live in small ecological villages, or that become members of religious communities. Or the Amish or the Menonites. They teach me that to some extent or for some people, happiness does not depend on the amount of freedom. It is something internal that flows out from you, not that flows in from external circumstances.

I like movies like this one that leave me thinking...

[–] pounce44 17 years ago

I appreciated reading your thoughts here.
It's interesting to think about our parameters, and how much they do or don't effect our ambition...sense of purpose...pursuit of happiness.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] hakeem-8 16 years ago

Excellent post, Dato! Was a pleasure to read it. For once a thread on this forum where people aren't simply rerererepeating the statement of "he should have left the ship!"

[–] oso780 16 years ago

I also encountered a very powerful meaning and critisicm about music now a days. 1900's music was powerful and it was his gift to humanity, but it could not be repeated. The only person he was willing to take a piece of his music was the girl because that piano piece truly belonged to her. There is a strong criticism about the industrialization of music, when the producer says you the piece has to have a catchy title and will have people crying buckets, and 1900 would be a millionaire without ever having to leave the ship. 1900 responds that his music doesn't go anywhere without him, refusing to make his music a simple product marketed with a catchy title. He knew who he was and what his music meant and he didn´t care about fame or proving he was the best. He sort of punishes jelly roll morton not because he wanted to show he was the best but because his attitude toward music and life and i think all this is a powerful message in a society filled with commercial lies and standarization. Sorry if i got a little off topic but to finish i think he didnt need more choices because he was one of the few enlightened beings that now who they are and why they are there.

[–] stazza 16 years ago

I discovered this trick to life years ago and was SHOCKED when I happened upon that theme is this lovely movie. I live and practice a life of not getting rolledover with choices:

- cancelled cable, I only have 5 air stations
- no cell phone, just one phone number for work and home
- ONE private email, one SPAM email address
- I purposely avoid overcomplicated situations be either deciding quickly or skipping it altogether
- I avoid more than 3 levels of "Multi tasking" and get more work done because of it
- in the studio I refuse to write more than 6 parts to the songs, keeping production limited to 3 keyboards max

Understanding that we only have TWO eyes, TWO ears, TWO arms and legs that are not designed to constantly try to force as much as possible through our system, helps keep reality in check.

This movie explains a point very well, but most people may simply see it as crazy. But it is not, and it is completely achievable even in our fast food lifestyle world. I'm living proof.

[–] Enrique-8 15 years ago

Bravo, Stazza!

Enrique Sanchez