Transformative Experience, Awareness Growth, and the Limits of Rational Planning. Issue 5 (10th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steele, Katie; Stefánsson, H. Orri
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of science. Volume 89:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 939
• Page End: 948
• Publication Date: 2022-12-10
• Subjects: Science -- Periodicals; Science -- Philosophy; Science; Science -- Philosophy; Philosophie des sciences; Epistemology; Periodicals; 501
• DOI: 10.1017/psa.2022.55
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-767X

Abstract

Abstract: Laurie Paul argues that, when it comes to many of your most significant life-changing decisions, the principles of rational choice are silent. That is because, in these cases, you anticipate that one of your choice options would yield a transformative experience . We argue that such decisions are best seen as ones in which you anticipate awareness growth . You do not merely lack knowledge about which possible outcome will arise from a transformative option; you lack knowledge about what are the possible outcomes. We show how principles of rational choice can be extended to cases of anticipated awareness growth.