Evolutionary Theory and Human Decision-Making: Reconciling Rationality with Biological Constraints

Explore the paradox between human evolutionary success and apparent decision-making flaws in this thought-provoking lecture from Stanford University's James Holland Jones. Delve into the concept of existential uncertainty and its impact on human preferences, utility, and rationality. Examine how evolutionary theory can potentially explain and unify seemingly disparate anomalies in human decision-making. Discover the implications of natural selection on human behavior and decision-making processes, challenging traditional notions of formal rationality. Investigate classic distortions from the rational choice paradigm revealed by behavioral economics, and gain insights into how evolutionary considerations can reshape our understanding of human decision-making strategies.