Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Next up we’ll be opening the Gazette floor to questions for a Swarthmore professor. Don’t worry – none of his classes are Writing Courses.
It’s Barry Schwartz, a Psychology prof famed for his book, The Paradox of Choice, as well as two (count ‘em, two!) popular TED talks.
He has argued that an overabundance of choice can actually leave us feeling less happy with whatever we decide, and that ideas of free market economics have eroded the practical wisdom that once guided our social relations and institutions.
And now, he’ll answer whatever you feel like asking him. Leave a new comment for each question you want to ask, then up or down vote queries from your fellow commenters. Or if you’d rather keep your question shrouded in mystery, you could always send it to fivethings@daily.swarthmore.edu.
