Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret it either way. Laugh at the world’s foolishness, you will regret it; weep over it, you will regret that too; laugh at the world’s foolishness or weep over it, you will regret both. Believe a woman, you will regret it; believe her not, you will also regret it… Hang yourself, you will regret it; do not hang yourself, and you will regret that too; hang yourself or don’t hang yourself, you’ll regret it either way; whether you hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret both. This, gentlemen, is the essence of all philosophy.”
Thus wrote a frustrated Kierkegaard in his masterpiece Either/Or about the dilemma at the heart of Existentialism, a philosophy that draws attention to the difficulties created for humans by having insufficient knowledge and time to make optimal choices.
Today is election day in New South Wales. Vote for the Liberals, and you will regret it; don’t vote for the Liberals, you will also regret it; vote for the Liberals or don't vote for the Liberals, you will regret it either way.
