Consumer Vertigo

A new wave of social critics claim that freedom's just another word for way too much to choose. Here's why they're wrong.

Virginia Postrel from the June 2005 issue

(Page 4 of 4)

"Social ties actually decrease freedom, choice, and autonomy," he writes. "Marriage, for example, is a commitment to a particular other person that curtails freedom of choice in sexual and even emotional partners." So gays who cannot legally marry their partners are somehow freer than heterosexuals who can? There's something deeply wrong with this understanding of choice. Freedom to choose must include the freedom to commit.

Ultimately, the debate about choice is not about markets but about character. Liberty and responsibility really do go together; it's not just a platitude. The more freedom we have to control our lives, the more responsibility we have for how they turn out. In a world of constraints, learning to be happy with what you're given is a virtue. In a world of choices, virtue comes from learning to make commitments without regrets. And commitment, in turn, requires self-confidence and self-knowledge.

"We are free to be the authors of our lives," says Schwartz, "but we don't know exactly what kind of lives we want to 'write.'" Maturity lies in deciding just that.�

Page: ‹ First < 2 34

Reason needs your support. Please donate today!

Try Reason's award-winning print edition today! Your first issue is FREE if you are not completely satisfied.

|4.30.10 @ 12:20PM|#

You may be right but for me the marketing of false choices is crazy making.

My example: I take the responsibility upon myself to buy a router with WiFi. At the Best Buy or on the Tiger.com (or the Amazon.com) I inquire "which is better L*****s or N*****r?". Now, I know that the 802.11abgn radio for both is either an Atheros or a Broadcom IC and in compliance with spectrum license throughout the globe. But Ms. Best Buy and Mr. Tiger.com not only do not know what I know - they do not know that they do not know that I know what they do not know.

So perforce - I become crazy from being forced to make an irresponsible and irrational purchase decision. From too many choices. But at the end of the day - I have a fine wireless office to navigate the series of tubes and write reasonable posts to Reason.

Sheepskin Boots Sale|11.24.10 @ 4:24AM|#

Classic Ugg Sheepskin Boots Alpine types of access endless colors, all are favored in the world. In my opinion, anticipating the appearance favored is brown. Is an acute form aces and flexible color. On Sheepskin Ugg Boots the anniversary and any woman's wardrobe

CHEAPWOMEN UGG BOOTS|11.24.10 @ 4:29AM|#

However, the treatment Ugg Boots Outlet boots appropriate assistance to ensure their place on the face to achieve industry-wide architecture. This Sheepskin Boots Sale margin year term architect little use to access through the bodies of all the many added

nfl jerseys|11.8.10 @ 12:13AM|#

ndtehgd

قبلة الوداع|8.16.11 @ 1:27AM|#

thank u

منتديات العراق|8.16.11 @ 9:15PM|#

thank you.

http://www.iraqn.com/
http://www.v9f.net/chat

Reason.com