Think Trade-Off & Dose-Response

This is going to be a short one because this is a big topic and this initial entry is a jumping-off point for later, more in-depth entries.

Many of life's choices are best viewed in terms of trade-offs and dose-response. There are certainly times for thinking in absolutes. The most generic, overused example, Hitler, is a case where absolutist thinking was appropriate in assessing his actions. No amount of thinking in trade-offs could excuse the genocide he was committing. Enough on Hitler, though. I just wanted to acknowledge that there are times when thinking in absolutes is required. 

Most of the time, though, especially in matters less weighty, like what to eat, what exercise program to do, whether to drive through town or to take the highway, you'll be better off thinking about trade-offs between options or what kind of response you'll get from the dose you're choosing.

You should be immediately skeptical of anyone who says that there's only one way to get healthy/fit, to eat well, etc. The truth is, there are many ways to accomplish many different things in life. The right choices often involve a complex mix of evidence, personal preferences, and best guesses. 

We'll dive deep into one example of trade-offs in my next entry.