The OptimalWork Podcast
The OptimalWork Podcast
OptimalWork
319. Why Bad Decisions Can Feel Reasonable
31 minutes Posted Sep 28, 2026 at 4:30 am.
0:00
31:07
Download MP3
Show notes

#319: Fear can make a difficulty seem insurmountable; desire can make getting what we want seem like all that matters. Kevin and Sharif explore how both can distort understanding and turn careful reasoning into rationalization. Drawing on Aquinas’s account of prudence, they connect everyday choices—from buying a car to putting off important work—to three questions that help restore perspective: Whose good is being served? What’s the hardest part? And what would real excellence look like here?


Find more at https://OptimalWork.com