Question

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Socrates believed that akrasia (meaning procrastination) was, strictly speaking, impossible, since we could not want what is bad for us; if we act against our own interests, it must be because we don’t know what’s right. Loewenstein, similarly, is inclined to see the procrastinator as led astray by the “visceral” rewards of the present. As the nineteenth-century Scottish economist John Rae put it, “The prospects of future good, which future years may hold on us, seem at such a moment dull and dubious, and are apt to be slighted, for objects on which the daylight is falling strongly, and showing us in all their freshness just within our grasp.” Loewenstein also suggests that our memory for the intensity of visceral rewards is deficient: when we put off preparing for that meeting by telling ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow, we fail to take into account that tomorrow the temptation to put off work will be just as strong.
Ignorance might also affect procrastination through what the social scientist Jon Elster calls “the planning fallacy.” Elster thinks that people underestimate the time “it will take them to complete a given task, partly because they fail to take account of how long it has taken them to complete similar projects in the past and partly because they rely on smooth scenarios in which accidents or unforeseen problems never occur.”
According to the passage, in regard to time, which of the following statements gives the BEST reason for procrastination?

• A. Time is not planned according to the task
• B. Time is not taken into account
• C. Time is underestimated for a particular task
• D. Time is estimated according to the new task
• E. Time is taken as linear in the task

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The passage discusses the concept of procrastination, focusing on the reasons why people delay tasks despite knowing the negative consequences. It mentions Socrates' view that ignorance, not intention, leads to procrastination due to a lack of understanding of what is truly beneficial. Additionally, it refers to Loewenstein's idea that people are often swayed by immediate rewards, failing to recognize that the urge to procrastinate will persist.

Jon Elster's "planning fallacy," cited in the passage, explains procrastination as a result of underestimating the time required to complete tasks. This underestimation happens because individuals fail to learn from past experiences and often envision ideal scenarios free from unexpected delays.

Given the context of the passage, let's evaluate the given options:

• Time is not planned according to the task: This does not encompass the explanation that individuals fail to recall or account for past task durations, as highlighted by Elster's planning fallacy.
• Time is not taken into account: This statement is too broad. The passage specifically points out underestimation based on flawed recall or predictions, not a complete neglect of time considerations.
• Time is underestimated for a particular task: This directly aligns with Elster's planning fallacy described in the passage, where people miscalculate how long a task will actually take due to optimistic predictions or failure to learn from past lessons.
• Time is estimated according to the new task: While this seems relevant, it does not capture the central theme of underestimating based on flawed assumptions or previous experiences as elaborated by Elster.
• Time is taken as linear in the task: This concept is not explicitly addressed in the passage and does not parallel the focus on underestimation due to neglecting past patterns.

Based on this analysis, the statement “Time is underestimated for a particular task” most accurately reflects the reasoning presented in the passage regarding the influence of time perception on procrastination.

Answer 2

This passage highlights perspectives on procrastination. It starts with Socrates' belief that procrastination, termed 'akrasia', is not a voluntary act since we cannot desire what harms us. We only act against our interests due to ignorance of the right action. Loewenstein agrees, attributing procrastination to the appeal of immediate rewards over future ones, as noted by John Rae, who describes how future benefits appear uncertain compared to present, tangible incentives. The passage further points out Loewenstein's view that our memory for these immediate rewards is poor, causing consistent procrastination.

Furthermore, the passage explores how ignorance contributes via the "planning fallacy," as discussed by social scientist Jon Elster. He argues that people often misjudge the time needed for a task by overlooking past experiences and failing to consider potential hiccups.

Based on these insights, the statement that best encapsulates a reason for procrastination concerning time is: Time is underestimated for a particular task. This captures how individuals often downplay the required time due to inadequate consideration of previous similar tasks and unforeseen circumstances.