Images of difficulty

Abstract

The difficulty of choice refers to the effort involved in the process of deliberation whenever the agent is confronted with a set of alternatives whose consequences are evaluated in a multidimensional space of incommensurable and conflictive values. Tension stemming from the conflict between values (or ends) and reluctance to tradeoff those values against each other is the source of difficulty. The distinction between a computational and a moral aspect of difficulty is drawn with the support of empirical evidence from psychology and neuroscience research. This research shows not only that individuals spontaneously operate a distinction between non-moral and moral dilemmas, but also that the neural patterns observed during actual decision-making processes are different and dependent on the non-moral or moral coloring of the choice situation. Moreover, this research shows that neural patterns vary across different sorts of moral dilemmas. The paper further argues that those advances are putting under pressure the neoclassical economics’ rational choice model.