Order what you feel like eating," says your impatient…
““Order what you feel like eating," says your impatient dinner companion. But the problem is that you don't KNOW what you feel like eating. What you feel like eating is precisely what you are trying to figure out. Order what you feel like eating" is just a piece of advice about the criteria you should be using to guide your deliberations. It is not a solution to your menu problem - just as "Do the right thing" and "Tell the truth" are only suggestions about criteria, not answers to actual dilemmas. The actual dilemma is what, in the particular case staring you in the face, the right thing to do or the honest thing to say really is. And making those kinds of decisions - about what is right or what is truthful - IS like deciding what to order in a restaurant, in the sense that getting a handle on tastiness is no harder or easier (even though it is generally less important) than getting a handle on justice or truth.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Choosing based on vague feelings is insufficient; decisions need clear criteria rather than vague preferences.
In simple terms: Feelings alone don’t guide choices.
Key Takeaway
Define concrete standards before deciding.
Themes
decision-making
criteria
clarity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- career choices
- personal relationships
- consumer purchases
- policy debates
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethical reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria could replace “what I feel like”?
- How do you distinguish taste from truth?
A Different Perspective
Feelings can mislead without analysis.