The Philosopher’s Guide to Uncertainty

There is a paradox at the heart of being human.

On the one hand, we have to make plans for the future. We go to jobs, book vacations, and save for our retirement. But on the other, life is never straightforward, and the best laid plans often go wrong. The old Yiddish proverb, “Man plans, and God laughs,” captures the limits of our ability to control the future.

So how are we to resolve the paradox? How can we feel confident planning for a future that we can’t predict? How can we make rational, thoughtful decisions when we have no idea what lurks around the corner?

In this Big Think Live event for members only, Dan Hayes talks with Jonny Thomson about the philosophy of decision-making. Together, they draw on Stoicism, Buddhism, and modern psychology to explore how we can walk the narrow path between control and surrender.

The event will feature an extensive Q&A session with an invitation for members to offer their own stories of decision-making and to give their own commentary on the philosophy at the heart of Big Think’s recent videos and articles.

This video is featured on Big Think.