Imagine a donkey standing exactly halfway between two identical piles of hay, with water nearby. Both options are equally attractive, so it has no rational reason to choose one over the other. Unable to decide, it eventually dies of hunger. This famous thought experiment, known as Buridan’s Ass, is associated with medieval philosopher Jean Buridan. It raises a simple but difficult question: if two choices are exactly equal, what makes us choose? The paradox explores free will, rationality and the limits of logical decision-making. Perhaps refusing to choose can be worse than making the wrong choice.
When a Donkey Overthinks Dinner
