people structure things in the present so that their future selves can’t misbehave. By lashing ourselves to the mast we can get around the seduction of the now. It’s the trick that lets us behave in better alignment with the kind of person we would like to be. The key to the Ulysses contract is recognizing that we are different people in different contexts. To make better decisions, it’s important not only to know yourself but all of your selves.
