Hmm, my guess is that people initially pick a random maximal element and then when they have said it once, it becomes a cached thought so they just say it again when asked. I know I did (and do) this for favorite color. I just picked one that looks nice (red) and then say it when asked because it’s easier than explaining that I don’t actually have a favorite. I suspect that if you do this a bunch / from a young age, the concept of doing this merges with the actual concept of favorite.
I do not have a favorite food, a favorite book, a favorite song, a favorite joke, a favorite flower, or a favorite butterfly. My tastes don’t work that way.
In general, in any area of art or sensation, there are many ways for something to be good, and they cannot be compared and ordered. I can’t judge whether I like chocolate better or noodles better, because I like them in different ways. Thus, I cannot determine which food is my favorite.
I agree with most of this but I partially (hah!) disagree with the part that they cannot be compared at all. Only some elements can be compared (e.g. I like the memory of hiking more than the memory of feeling sick.) But not all can be compared.
Hmm, my guess is that people initially pick a random maximal element and then when they have said it once, it becomes a cached thought so they just say it again when asked. I know I did (and do) this for favorite color. I just picked one that looks nice (red) and then say it when asked because it’s easier than explaining that I don’t actually have a favorite. I suspect that if you do this a bunch / from a young age, the concept of doing this merges with the actual concept of favorite.
I just remembered that Stallman also realized the same thing:
I agree with most of this but I partially (hah!) disagree with the part that they cannot be compared at all. Only some elements can be compared (e.g. I like the memory of hiking more than the memory of feeling sick.) But not all can be compared.