Q. The paradox of choice is illustrated by the story of Buridan’s ass. Jean Buridan, the 14th century philosopher, wrote about free will and the inability to choose due to numerous choices and uncertainties.
In the story, a donkey stands between two equally appealing stacks of hay. Unable to decide which to eat, it starves to death. Changes in technology and innovations such as smart phones and tablets only exacerbate our glut of choices. Constant connectivity and overconsumption of real-time data and social media can leave little room for self-reflection and rest, making decisions more difficult. Life is about choices. Many people are overwhelmed with attractive life choices, yet find themselves unhappy and anxious.
Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical message implied by the above passage
(a) Modern technology enfeebles societal structure and makes life difficult.
(b) Modern life is full of uncertainties and endless difficult choices.
(c) We are influenced by the opinion of others and have no courage to follow our own convictions.
(d) In our lives, having too few choices may not be a good thing, but having too many can be equally as difficult.
Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT
Model Answer:
Q1: Correct Answer – (d) In our lives, having too few choices may not be a good thing, but having too many can be equally as difficult.
Explanation –
The passage discusses the paradox of choice, using the story of Buridan’s ass to illustrate how having too many options can lead to indecision and difficulty. It also mentions how modern technology and constant connectivity can exacerbate this problem, making it harder to make decisions. Therefore, the statement that best reflects the message of the passage is that having too many choices can be as difficult as having too few.