The Problem of Choice at Different Stages of Life - Essay Example

Every human being has faced situations in life when decisions become difficult and ethical dilemmas haunt a person. Kierkegaard discusses of an either/or situation but when the decision is between truth and righteousness on one side and lust and passions on the other, choice is not difficult. At least it should not be difficult to make and the choice has to be right. In such situations dilemmas should not occur at all. In fact, one should also subject one’s Self to tests when the either/or situation presents itself. What is required at that moment of choice is the presence of mind to make the right decision. However, it is not the mind or the intellect that has to be used to arrive at the right decision. It is the power of discrimination and this power of discrimination comes from the inner self. When a person keep making choices based on his desires and passions, Kierkegaard emphasizes, he starts living in a make-believe world. This mask has to wear off one day. We keep deceiving others or at least derive pleasure in believing that we are deceiving others but Kierkegaard says, we never realize that we have actually been deceiving our own self. This actually results in people not being able to reveal the true nature of the Self. Human beings have a tendency to deceive themselves; they are not transparent even to their own self. One cannot reveal his self, cannot love and one who cannot love is the most unhappy man. It is the desires and passions in man that lead him to self destruction. Desires blind a person to an extent that he cannot discriminate between the right and the wrong. When one is unable to come out of it, one indulges in self-pity. This further pushes him away from the revelation of the true nature of the self. Suppose a young man approaches an older man for counseling. The older man cannot shirk off the responsibility by saying he would not help. In fact, he should feel honoured that a young man has thought him wise enough to counsel others. While explaining to him how to make choices, it is essential to tell him that every individual has the power to defy the whole world. It is not the maturity that matters; it is the personality developed through the use of such power that is inherent in every human being. Before counseling, one would automatically appreciate the vigour of the young man and love springs forth from within. Unable to make choices, people contradict themselves. This only shows a confused state of mind. Choices change the next moment and if one decides to change the choice, the personality is affected. Hence it is important to make the right choice and at the right time. The aesthetic choice does not require deliberation and discussion before making a choice. The aesthetic choice has to be immediate otherwise it gets lost. When people fall in love, they do not have to undergo the process of discussion and then decide. The choice is made instantly; this is aesthetic choice. However, when confronted with a problem, choice becomes difficult. There are not just two choices of either/or but a multitude of choices. This is because people choose something that appeals to the mind and emotion but as emotions are changeable, the choice also changes along with it. The ethical choice may be easier and simpler but harder. The act of choice itself is difficult. In ethical choices it is not about the right choice but about the energy and the sincerity with which the choice is made. Kiekegaard says that a choice made aesthetically does not transform the personality of the person because it is influenced by the heart. In the case of ethical choice, it requires analysis, introspection, discussion and even then one may not be satisfied with the choice made. Even if he makes a wrong he would discover it and regret and then try to rectify it. In the case of aesthetic choice, there is no higher consecration. The author says one can either live ethically or aesthetically. One who lives aesthetically does not choose; one who chooses the aesthetic after ethical deliberations is not living aesthetically. In the case of religion also, we all have at some point of time felt an inner awakening but the moment this happens, we feel we have attained it all and can preach better than the parsons who have been preaching for over twenty years. We claim to have a better command over the language and have engaged in deep study for a few weeks and hence, wiser too. This may be a temporary enthusiasm which reflects even in other works of art. This is the time that one needs to make a choice. During the process of choosing people undergo many reflections and observations. Then again you are faced with a dilemma – to be a parson or go in for another profession. This again leads to further waste of time and energy. What Kierkegaard implies is that choices should be made from the innser Self and not through the mind. When choices are made through the inner Self, it is the right choice and the decision would not waiver. The mind waivers and hence any decision made through the mind would also be likely to waver the next moment. Sometimes, in life such situations do arise when one is compelled to decide through the ‘heart’. This heart is nothing but the emotions which are perishable, changeable and temporary. Such decisions can only lead one to sufferings. In fact the process of making choice is what leads us to sufferings. Our choices are based on our desires and attachment. This can hence be linked to the Four Noble Truth of Buddha. The First Truth Noble Truth is that life is a suffering – both physical and mental or psychological. Sufferings arise when we differ in out opinions with others. It can even lead to wars and in fact many wars have taken place because people differed in their choices and opinions. Here the aesthetic appeal is given preference leading to difference in choice thereby resulting in war. What is required is insight or as Kiekegaard also contends, we should make the choice not through the mind but the inner Self. The Second Noble Truth is that the origin of suffering is attachment. All decision taken or choices made are based on our desires and attachments. The wrong decisions arise out of ignorance. Ignorance does not mean that an individual has no knowledge or information on how to act or decide. Ignorance is the state when an individual chooses to ignore the knowledge inherent in every individual. This too is a choice and hence it is self-inflicted. It also shows that human beings are attached to objects and hence their decisions are objective and so are their experiences. The Third Noble Truth is that it possible to attain peace and overcome sufferings. Kierkegaard also mentions that we have the ability to choose right and at the right time. We have to use the inner consciousness and not the material, undulating mind to make choices. Even the decision to attain peace should be firm and it can be firm only when one realizes the importance of being at peace. If the cause of suffering is removed, suffering can be removed. The cause of suffering is desire and attachment. It is possible to become free from all worries and attachments if we make the right choices in life, says Kierkegaard. The Fourth Noble Truth is the path to the cessation of suffering. This is the gradul path of self-development which accroding to Kierkegaard is to learn to use the power of discrimination. As one focuses on developing the personality by avoiding aesthetic decisions, one is able to overcome the craving for material objects. One can overcome the state of grief. In fact, one can accept every experience just as an experience without giving it the name of pain or pleasure. One does not recognize something as suffering and hence there is no suffering. This can happen when one learn to make the right choices at the right time. Thus, all philosophical thoughts are interlinked and lead to the same truth – make the right choice by not being attached to desires. Do not be carried away by aesthetic appeal and have a subjective experience because an objective experience will hold one in the world of objects. This study has enlightened me to the extent that most of our pains and sufferings are because we do not make the right choices. We cannot and should not pass on the blame or responsibility to others because we make the choice which causes us the suffering. We must use the discretion and reflect on our decisions. If we feel the choice has been wrong, we should have the confidence to change the decision and correct our action. Through this process we are able to gradually develop the Self and demonstrate nobility in our behaviour. Read More