Rational Analysis = Impossible

I am not supposed to be blogging right now. Instead, I am supposed to be writing an analysis of an education policy from a rational perspective.

But you know what? A strictly rational approach to decision making is impossible. Want citations? See Graham Allison (1999) or Donna Kerr (1976) or Charles Lindbloom (1959). All of these smart, published people agree: a strict rational approach to decision making is simply not possible for humans. We cannot know all possible alternative solutions to a given problem. And even if we could (and we can't...), we mere mortals cannot construct a pure cost-benefit analysis of the infinite options to choose the one perfect solution to our initial problem.

I know this because I am supposed to be writing a 50-page, multiple perspectives policy analysis. And yet...it comes in handy in other respects this week.

If rational decision making is impossible for policy makers, gosh darn it if it isn't even harder in emotional, interpersonal relationships.

That's my deep thought for the night. That and this: Love is an act of will.*

*This was in the comments of APW from a bride who said their officiant used it in the ceremony. Awesome.