It might be between two careers --

可能是糾結於兩種職業：

artist and accountant --

藝術家或會計；

or places to live -- the city or the country --

或是住在哪：城市還是鄉村；

or even between two people to marry --

甚至是兩個人中選擇一個結婚，

you could marry Betty or you could marry Lolita.

你可以跟貝蒂或是洛麗塔結婚。

Or it might be a choice about whether to have children,

抑或是決定是否要孩子，

to have an ailing parent move in with you,

是否要年老體弱的父母搬過來住，

to raise your child in a religion

是否讓你的孩子信奉你配偶的宗教，

that your partner lives by

但其實你並不信奉。

but leaves you cold.

或者是否將畢生儲蓄捐於慈善機構。

Or whether to donate your life's savings to charity.

這些艱難決定很可能是

Chances are, the hard choice you thought of

對你來說非常重大的，

was something big, something momentous,

關乎一切的。

something that matters to you.

需要艱難抉擇的時刻

Hard choices seem to be occasions

艱難抉擇就像季節

for agonizing, hand-wringing,

令人非常痛苦，令人絕望，

the gnashing of teeth.

糾結到咬牙切齒。

But I think we've misunderstood hard choices

但我認為我們誤解了艱難決定，

and the role they play in our lives.

和生活中的角色。

Understanding hard choices

我們明白這些艱難的抉擇

uncovers a hidden power

會釋放出一種潛力

each of us possesses.

我們都會經歷

What makes a choice hard is the way

這種決定之所以艱難

the alternatives relate.

是因為其他選擇的相關性

In any easy choice,

在簡單的決定中

one alternative is better than the other.

總是一種選擇比另一種好

In a hard choice,

而在艱難決定裡

one alternative is better in some ways,

一種選擇在某些方面是好的

the other alternative is better in other ways,

另一種選擇在另一些方面是好的

and neither is better than the other overall.

而且這兩種都不可能完勝對方

You agonize over whether to stay

你極其痛苦地徘徊於繼續留

in your current job in the city

在市區的這份工作，

or uproot your life for

還是徹底改變你的生活

more challenging work in the country

到鄉村接受更有挑戰的工作

because staying is better in some ways,

因為留下了有些好處

moving is better in others,

離開也有另一些好處

and neither is better than the other overall.

而且兩個選擇都無法打敗對方

We shouldn't think that all hard choices are big.

我們不該認為所有的艱難決定都如此重要

Let's say you're deciding what to have for breakfast.

比方說，你正在決定早飯吃什麼

You could have high fiber bran cereal or a chocolate donut.

你可以吃高纖穀物麥片或是巧克力甜甜圈。

Suppose what matters in the choice

假設這個決定的重要因素

is tastiness and healthfulness.

包括可口度和健康度

The cereal is better for you,

麥片對你身體好

the donut tastes way better,

甜甜圈則好吃多了

but neither is better than the other overall,

但沒有一種選擇是百分百更好。

a hard choice.

這是個艱難決定。

Realizing that small choices

如果意識到小的選擇

can also be hard

也可能很難決定，

may make big hard choices seem less intractable.

則會減小那些重大決定的不確定性。

After all, we manage to figure out what to have for breakfast,

畢竟我們還是能決定早餐吃什麼的，

so maybe we can figure out

所以或許我們會想明白

whether to stay in the city

到底要留在市區

or uproot for the new job in the country.

還是遷到鄉下新的工作。

We also shouldn't think that hard choices are hard

我們也不應該覺得艱難抉擇之所以難，

because we are stupid.

是因為我們愚蠢當

When I graduated from college,

我大學畢業時，

I couldn't decide between two careers,

我無法在兩種事業中作出決定，

philosophy and law.

哲學還是法律。

I really loved philosophy.

我真的很愛哲學。

There are amazing things you can learn

你可以學到很多令人驚奇的東西，

as a philosopher,

作為哲學家，

and all from the comfort of an armchair.

而且只需要坐在凳子上就好了。

But I came from a modest immigrant family

但是我來自一個收入平平的移民家庭，

where my idea of luxury

我對於奢侈的概念就是

was having a pork tongue and jelly sandwich

能有一個豬舌三明治

in my school lunchbox,

出現在我午餐盒裡

so the thought of spending my whole life

所以要一輩子

sitting around in armchairs just thinking,

坐在冷板凳上思考的想法，

well, that struck me as the height of extravagance and frivolity.

其實，對我來說是極其奢侈和輕率的。

So I got out my yellow pad,

所以我拿出我的筆記本，

I drew a line down the middle,

在中間劃一條線，

and I tried my best to think of the reasons

我竭盡全力想出原因

for and against each alternative.

每個選擇的利與弊。

I remember thinking to myself,

我當時想

if only I knew what my life

如果我能知道我的生活會是怎樣

in each career would be like.

要是我能知道選擇某種職業後是怎樣就好了

If only God or Netflix would send me a DVD

要是上帝或 Netflix 能送我一張 DVD

of my two possible future careers, I'd be set.

講述兩種職業生活，我就能決定了。

I'd compare them side by side,

我就能將兩者進行對比，

I'd see that one was better,

就會看到一種比另一種好，

and the choice would be easy.

那麼選擇就變簡單了。，

But I got no DVD,

但我不會有這種 DVD

and because I couldn't figure out which was better,

而且因為我想不通到底哪種更好，

I did what many of us do in hard choices:

我就像大多數面對艱難抉擇的人一樣：

I took the safest option.

我選擇了最安全的那個。

Fear of being an unemployed philosopher

害怕成為哲學家找不到工作，

led me to become a lawyer,

我就成了一名律師。

and as I discovered,

後來逐漸發現，

lawyering didn't quite fit.

當律師並不合適。

It wasn't who I was.

這不是真正的我。

So now I'm a philosopher,

所以現在我是個哲學家，

and I study hard choices,

而且我研究艱難的決定。

and I can tell you that fear of the unknown,

我可以告訴你，對未知的恐懼

while a common motivational default

雖然是常見的自然反應，

in dealing with hard choices,

在面對艱難抉擇時

rests on a misconception of them.

卻也是種對艱難決定的誤解。

It's a mistake to think that in hard choices,one alternative really is better than the other,

在艱難決定中，認為一種選擇比另一種好，是錯誤的。

but we're too stupid to know which,

但並非我們愚蠢

and since we don't know which, we might as well

既然不知道哪個更好，

take the least risky option.

則最好選擇風險最小的那個。

Even taking two alternatives side by side

就算對於兩種選擇你有全面的資訊，

with full information, a choice can still be hard.

對比著看，仍然難做決定。

Hard choices are hard

這些選擇之所以難

not because of us or our ignorance;

並非因為我們無知，

they're hard because there is no best option.

而因為根本沒有最好的選擇。

Now, if there's no best option,

那麼，若沒有最好選擇，

if the scales don't tip in favor of one alternative

如果天枰不會傾斜於，

over another,

任何一方

then surely the alternatives must be equally good.

那麼任何替代選項都是一樣好的。

So maybe the right thing to say in hard choices

所以應該說，在艱難的決定裡

is that they're between equally good options.

所有選項都是一樣的好。

That can't be right.

這肯定不對。

If alternatives are equally good,

如果選項都差不多好，

you should just flip a coin between them,

你就該直接拋硬幣了，

and it seems a mistake to think,

連思考都成了錯誤。

here's how you should decide between careers,

你於是可以這樣決定事業、

places to live, people to marry: Flip a coin.

住處、婚姻：拋硬幣。

There's another reason for thinking

說艱難的決定還有另一個原因。

that hard choices aren't choices

艱難的決定並非是選項中

between equally good options.

在兩個同樣好選擇

Suppose you have a choice between two jobs:

設想你要在兩份工作中做選擇：

you could be an investment banker

你可以是投資銀行家，

or a graphic artist.

或平面藝術家。

There are a variety of things that matter in such a choice,

這一決定中有眾多重要因素，

like the excitement of the work,

像工作的興奮度、

achieving financial security,

帶來經濟保障、

having time to raise a family, and so on.

有時間顧家等等。

Maybe the artist's career puts you

也許當一名藝術家

on the cutting edge of new forms

能讓你接觸最前沿的

of pictorial expression.

圖像表達形式。

Maybe the banking career

也許當銀行家

puts you on the cutting edge

能讓你接觸最先進的

of new forms of financial manipulation.

金融操縱形式。

Imagine the two jobs however you like

無論怎麼想像這兩種職業

so that neither is better than the other.

都無法判斷哪個最好。

Now suppose we improve one of them a bit.

現在，我們試著改善一下其中一個。

Suppose the bank, wooing you,

假設某家銀行向你示好，

adds 500 dollars a month to your salary.

每月提薪500美元。

Does the extra money now make the banking job

有了每月更多的錢，

better than the artist one?

銀行家的工作是否看起來比藝術家好了？

Not necessarily.

不一定。

A higher salary makes the banking job

更高的薪水是讓銀行家的工作

better than it was before,

變得比原來好了，

but it might not be enough to make

但不足以讓成為銀行家

being a banker better than being an artist.

變得比成為藝術家更好。

But if an improvement in one of the jobs

但是如果對其中一個的改善

doesn't make it better than the other,

並沒有讓它比另一個好，

then the two original jobs

那麼兩個工作原本

could not have been equally good.

不可能是同樣好。

If you start with two things that are equally good,

如果有兩件事一開始同樣好，

and you improve one of them,

你改善了其中之一，

it now must be better than the other.

則它必然變得比另一個好。

That's not the case with options in hard choices.

但在艱難抉擇中並非如此。

So now we've got a puzzle.

那麼我們就有個難題了。

We've got two jobs.

這有兩份工作，

Neither is better than the other,

沒有哪個是最好的，

nor are they equally good.

也不是同樣好。

So how are we supposed to choose?

那該怎樣選擇呢？

Something seems to have gone wrong here.

這裡好像出現了些問題。

Maybe the choice itself is problematic

可能是選擇自身的問題但肯定不是這樣。

and comparison is impossible.

使我們無法比較。

But that can't be right.

因為並不是

It's not like we're trying to choose between

我們在兩個不可能比較的選項中選擇。

two things that can't be compared.

畢竟我們對兩份工作所有優點的

We're weighing the merits of two jobs, after all,

比較是衡量兩個工作的利弊，一切

not the merits of the number nine

而不是比較數字 9

and a plate of fried eggs.

和煎一碟蛋

A comparison of the overall merits of two jobs

比較兩份工作的利弊

is something we can make,

是我們可以做的

and one we often do make.

也是我們通常所做的一種對價值的

I think the puzzle arises

我認為問題根源

because of an unreflective assumption

於草率的設想。

we make about value.

我們不知不覺地認為，

We unwittingly assume that values

類似於一些價值

like justice, beauty, kindness,

像正義、美麗和善良

are akin to scientific quantities,

會以科學數量，

like length, mass and weight.

如長度、品質和重量。

Take any comparative question not involving value,

試想任何一個無關價值的比較，

such as which of two suitcases is heavier.

兩個箱子誰重？

There are only three possibilities.

只有三種可能。

The weight of one is greater, lesser

其中一個重量大於、小於

or equal to the weight of the other.

或等於另一個。

Properties like weight can be represented

像重量之類的性質可由

by real numbers -- one, two, three and so on --

數字表示：1, 2 ,3 ...

and there are only three possible comparisons

只有三種可能。

between any two real numbers.

而且在任何兩個數字間的比較

One number is greater, lesser,

一個數字大於、小於

or equal to the other.

或等於另一個。

Not so with values.

但價值不是這樣。

As post-Enlightenment creatures,

作為後啟蒙運動的生物，

we tend to assume

我們容易去設想世間一切重要之事。

that scientific thinking holds the key

科學的思考可以解決

to everything of importance in our world,

任何在世界上重要的

but the world of value

但是世界的價值

is different from the world of science.

不同於科學世界。

The stuff of the one world

後者的世界

can be quantified by real numbers.

可以被數字量化，

The stuff of the other world can't.

而前者不能。

We shouldn't assume

我們不該以為

that the world of is, of lengths and weights,

「是與否」、長度和重量的世界

has the same structure as the world of ought,

與「該或不該」、「該做什麼」的世界

of what we should do.

有著同種結構。

So if what matters to us --

所以，如果重要的因素

a child's delight, the love you have for your partner —

如，孩子的幸福、對配偶的愛，

can't be represented by real numbers,

都不能被數字量化，

then there's no reason to believe

那麼沒理由相信在

that in choice, there are only three possibilities --

選擇中只有三種可能

that one alternative is better, worse or equal

一種選項比另一種好、差

to the other.

或同樣好。

We need to introduce a new, fourth relation

我們需要引入第四種關係，

beyond being better, worse or equal,

除了更好、更差或同樣好以外，

that describes what's going on in hard choices.

它可以描述艱難抉擇的機制。

I like to say that the alternatives are

我喜歡說，所有選項都

"on a par."

「打成平手」。

When alternatives are on a par,

當選項都打成平手時，

it may matter very much which you choose,

選擇哪個就變得很重要，

but one alternative isn't better than the other.

但是並沒有哪個比任何一個好。

Rather, the alternatives are in

事實上，

the same neighborhood of value,

這些選項價值都差不多，

in the same league of value,

都在同一價值範疇。

while at the same time being very different

但同時它們又具

in kind of value.

非常不同的價值。

That's why the choice is hard.

這就是選擇為何艱難。

Understanding hard choices in this way

這樣理解了艱難選擇的話，

uncovers something about ourselves we didn't know.

我們會對自己有意外的發現。

Each of us has the power

我們每個人都能

to create reasons.

創造理由。

Imagine a world in which every choice you face

想像一下在某個世界上，

is an easy choice,

你所面臨的都是簡單的選擇，

that is, there's always a best alternative.

即，你總會有最好的選項。

If there's a best alternative,

如果有最佳選項，

then that's the one you should choose,

當然你應該選那個，

because part of being rational

因為理智就意味著

is doing the better thing rather than the worse thing,

做更好的決定而不是更差的，

choosing what you have most reason to choose.

選擇那個最合理的選項。

In such a world,

這樣一個世界裡，

we'd have most reason

我們會有足夠理由

to wear black socks instead of pink socks,

穿黑襪子而不是粉紅襪、

to eat cereal instead of donuts,

吃麥片而不吃甜甜圈、

to live in the city rather than the country,

住在城裡而非搬到鄉下、

to marry Betty instead of Lolita.

跟貝蒂結婚而不是洛麗塔。

A world full of only easy choices

一個滿是簡單選擇的世界

would enslave us to reasons.

會讓我們成為理由的奴隸。

When you think about it,

當你這麼一想的話，

it's nuts to believe

一切都太瘋狂了：

that the reasons given to you

那些現成的理由

dictated that you had most reason to pursue

決定了你有最合理的理由

the exact hobbies you do,

去追求你目前追求的愛好、

to live in the exact house you do,

去住你現在的房子、

to work at the exact job you do.

去做你現在的工作。

Instead, you faced alternatives

而現實是，你有很多選項，

that were on a par, hard choices,

它們打成平手，很難決定

and you made reasons for yourself

你為自己創造理由

to choose that hobby, that house and that job.