{"id":21288,"date":"2024-04-30T14:46:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T13:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/?p=21288"},"modified":"2026-05-21T19:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T18:32:22","slug":"the-wrong-choice-and-other-errors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/en\/the-wrong-choice-and-other-errors\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u201cWrong Choice\u201d And Other Errors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What looks like making wrong choices is often just trying. Assagioli on the difference between attempts and errors, and why mistakes are valuable for the soul.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Roberto Assagioli<\/strong>
Published in UOMINI e IDEE<\/em> (Men and Ideas), No. 11, Year I, November 1959, p. 345.
Docs. #23988-23989, Assagioli Archives, Florence.
Original title: La Scelta Sbagliata e Altri Errori<\/em>
[part of a longer article to which two other authors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> [i]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>
Translated and edited with notes by Jan Kuniholm [ii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editorial Note<\/strong>
The abstract and contextual subtitle in this online edition have been added by the editor, Kenneth S\u00f8rensen, to support readability, navigation, and archival consistency. The original wording has not been altered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Abstract<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Assagioli’s contribution to a 1959 symposium in UOMINI e IDEE<\/em> on the title topic. He distinguishes between attempts (experiments) and errors (claiming to be in the truth), defends a broad understanding of the scientific method, and disagrees with the pessimistic reading of the human condition. Mistakes and their pain serve human evolution; higher values lie waiting inside life to be discovered and activated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

My friend Mackenzie <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>[iii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> kindly asked me to contribute to the discussion of the article on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The \u201cWrong Choice\u201d and Other Errors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em> . That article is indeed very \u201cthought-provoking!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>[iv]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> It raises a number of biological, psychological, gnoseological, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>[v]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and spiritual issues, all of which bring one to the threshold of the great Mystery. It is evident that together those issues \u2014 indeed even one among them, which are interdependent, after all \u2014 cannot be adequately treated within the limits of a brief “commentary.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Before examining what makes a choice wrong, it is worth acknowledging the underlying assumption: that genuine choice \u2014 free will<\/a> \u2014 is possible at all. Ed)<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will therefore have to limit myself to a few hints and \u201cpositions,\u201d without being able to go to great lengths to substantiate them with scientific or philosophical \u201csupporting evidence.\u201d In doing so I will also take into account General Rabbero’s “statement” on that topic. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>[we]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n