Who Makes Your Decisions?

A proposal: You don't really know what you want.

Think you do? Spend 18 minutes sometime this weekend watching this presentation by Dan Ariely about "decision illusions," fascinating scenarios that point out how easy it really is to be manipulated when making decisions that seem to be purely independent. It'll make you think twice the next time you're going through the Dunkin' Donuts drive-through...

If you like that one, try another of Ariely's talks, this one about the glitches in our common-sense moral codes: "the hidden reasons we think it's OK to cheat or steal (sometimes)." See if you recognize elements or concepts from the various ethical theories we've learned about.

By the way, enjoy the break!