Cognitive fallacy: what is Fredkin's paradox

Fredkin paradox ： The more similar the two options look , The less important the decision is , But the harder it is to choose between them . therefore , We often spend the most time on the least important decisions .

Between the two options differences And the choice between them difficulty Negative correlation between layers , This paradox poses a major challenge to the possibility of pure instrumental rationality .

Have you noticed that you spent a whole 15 I have been worrying about whether to eat Apple Cinnamon pancakes or Banana Walnut pancakes in the morning ？ Has this decision ever affected your day in any way ？ The Fredkin paradox explains why you suffer .

Fred king is a professor of digital Physics , This means that he has made great contributions to the computer age . In my spare time , He came up with something that can only be described as a psychological paradox , Because it's inevitable . When you have to make a choice , You will spend some time weighing options .（ For the sake of simplicity , We would say that there are only two options to weigh .） If in these two options , One is obviously better , Then you will spend the least time thinking . As these two options get closer in quality , The time you spend thinking about them will increase .

Very similar to opportunity cost , The time for thinking and making decisions about two similar things is not as good as that for pleasure and other happier things , Our brain is for us to survive , Not to make us happy .