#148: Slippery Slope, Tyranny of Small Decisions & Atomic Habits

3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Making Small Decisions

I. Slippery Slope

The Slippery Slope argument suggests that an event or decision will inevitably lead to a chain of negative consequences. Once the initial step is taken, so the idea, it sets off a sequence of events that become increasingly difficult to stop or control, ultimately resulting in disaster. It’s often characterised as a logical fallacy because such claims tend to lack sufficient evidence or are based on flawed assumptions.

For example, if you allow your kids to play video games once, they will soon be playing them more often. Before you can say “Slippery Slope”, the more often turns into daily and a full-blown video-game addiction. The problem with this supposed fallacy of the Slippery Slope is that it’s not as ridiculous and fallacious as it sounds. A case in point is the idea of Mission Creep.

---

II. Tyranny of Small Decisions

A related concept is the Tyranny of Small Decisions. Every day we make small innocent choices that maximise for convenience. But they can accumulate and eventually lead to unintended negative consequences for ourselves and society. A great example of this social dilemma is the use of a shared resource as described in The Tragedy of the Commons. When common land is used for grazing, it can ruin said land:

Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit — in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons.

— Garrett Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons

The concept of the Tyranny of Small Decisions goes back to a paper by economist Alfred E. Kahn from 1966. It’s another reason why we should be careful to write off the Slippery Slope as a fallacy.

---

III. Atomic Habits

The good news is that small decisions can also lead to great things by developing Atomic Habits. The term was famously coined by James Clear in his book of the same name.

Atomic Habits revolves around the idea of making small, incremental changes in behaviour to create significant and lasting transformations in your life. Clear argues that rather than focusing on grand, sweeping resolutions, we should concentrate on tiny, manageable habits that can be easily incorporated into daily routines.

These tiny habits, so Clear, have the power to compound over time and lead to substantial improvements in your life. You just have to be consistent enough.

On a side note, one way to support my work is to check out James Clear's teachings about habits on MasterClass, where I happen to be an affiliate. Plans start at $10/month (billed annually) for all classes and sessions. 🐘

Have a great week,

Chris
themindcollection.com