Rational Irrationality

Abstract

When plucking petals, we often try to cheat a little, cleverly, so that not even we notice the deception. In a moment when no one is looking—ourselves included—we take off two petals “accidentally”; or when a few petals still remain we toss away the flower just “in time”—saying that the flower was irregular, that it was defective, and therefore we have to begin over with a new flower. The only judge is the psyche of the person in love; the very psyche who decided to cheat. Therefore, it is probable that the judge will be lenient, at least to a certain extent, for example by permitting another try. We often thus regulate the probabilities associated with a mixed strategy, even if we do not take off real petals or roll real dice, but simply ponder our own affairs. Sometimes we accept the result of our first happenstance train of thought, while at other times we try to think things over from other perspectives as well.