Wednesday, March 21, 2012

O Fortuna

Just one of those days when I become convinced that there is no such thing as a coincidence. That maybe people don't just get lucky. That whatever happens is for a reason - not a grand plan or anything - just a continuing chain of events with a definite purpose.

But then, on other days, perhaps it's easier to sway to the music of chance. Unbiased, unalloyed, unerring, uncaring chance. Moreso because we are all creatures shaped by the forces of random dice-throwing that is the way evolution always works.

I don't know the answer to which I would prefer was the truth. But all I believe is there is something to be said for trying to beat the odds. Always. Atleast you know you tried, right?

16 comments:

Kshipra said...

I know what you mean..... This reminds me of a quote.....by carl Jung, " Between every chaos of the cosmos there is a secret order". Wouldn't you agree more???


Sometimes we can forget why certain things happen for a reason....and then life is what happens when we're busy making other plans... It all disgruntles me when we experience it, but hen later on, it all makes sense.....

mgeek said...

A coincidence filled world would be a lot fun to live in, don't you think?

Soumya said...

Absolutely right!

No such thing as a coincidence. There are only sudden events. Good or bad, still events.

Sinduja said...

I don't know either. I guess no one does. But somehow it can't all be chance right? I mean, over a lifetime, maybe. Over two generations, maybe. But when you look at the pattern over centuries, you sure know that there is some balance. A Hitlet is born, a Gandhi is born. A nuclear bomb is invented, a solar panel is invented. Nah, can't all be chance.

nil said...

This post was a recurring thought in my head, only put into words much gracefully.

Loved the second para. It made so much sense, it's not even funny.

And yes, at least we tried.

S. Susan Deborah said...

Sometimes truth has different versions and maybe that is true in this case: Everything happens for a reason and that is by chance! Confused! Well.

Joy always,
Susan

Arumugam said...

"In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference." Dawkins

Is that sad or liberating?Different people take different sides.Your take?

In the Romantic sphere,yes,all of humanity love to believe in coincidences.If I had missed that flight.....beautifully expressed in this story

http://pakinamamer.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/de-botton-alain-on-love.pdf

One of my fav books,The first 7 pages [Pg 1 to Pg 7] leave me with a sense of absolute wonder on coincidences.(and mathematical permutations:-)

Tangled up in blue... said...

Tangerine, I think it does make sense to those seeking sense in it specifically, you know what I mean? For those who're not searching for patterns, it so happens they won't find any.

mgeek, especially with our track record of coincidences! :D

Soumya, I am inclined to believe that on most days. But sometimes, I really do wonder.

Tangled up in blue... said...

Sinduja, as always, that's an interesting perspective of things you've given me. I really look forward to your comments because of that. I always wonder if there's something I've missed about the situation that you've deciphered. Have you seen the film The Adjustment Bureau? It deals with the keepers of the natural order and what happens when they mess up.

nil, thank you! :) This was a recurring thought of mine as well. I just felt like it was about time I committed it to words.

Tangled up in blue... said...

Susan, very well said man! :) Versions of truth! Wow! :)

Arumugam, as always a truly fantastic quote! :) I always think of the brilliant characterisation of Two-Face from The Dark Knight, and how he believes that in a world where chaos reigns, chance is the only fair force. And if I think over it, I think it is easier to deal with an indifference than it is to deal with deliberate disfavour. I don't mind being disregarded completely but I do mind being regarded and passed over. You know what I mean? And wow, you're the second person this week who's advised me to check out Alain de Botton, looks like a fabulous link! Thank you! :)

Gustaf Valström said...

To quote from your facebook profile "Coincidence is only for those people who are not familiar with the law of large numbers." by Dr. Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory fame. ;))

Also do read that Alain de Botton's Essays on Love link that Arumugam's pasted in his comment. It's brilliant stuff!

And many thanks for that link Arumugam. I've heard Alain de Botton in action and he's quite an interesting fellow.

Vyankatesh said...

Thoughtful.

I wonder why Fortune is always mystical.

Sakshi said...

Sometimes, there are plain coincidences, but I feel that there is one BIG power up there- which makes sure that we are steered into the right path, even after we make the choices that are bad! :)

Tangled up in blue... said...

Gus, yes, that quote is one of my particular favourites man! :) I love Sheldon! He is so awesome! :) And I have downloaded it, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Still adamant on finishing the outstanding reading I have left. And wow, I am so jealous of you. You've done so many interesting things man. :)

Vyankatesh, because it's unpredictable and out of our control. Like how people worshipped nature and the gods that controlled weather, so they also worshipped fortune and made her a goddess of luck. :)

Sakshi, that is a very comforting thought, I know. But sometimes, I have my doubts - I worry if I'm making a selfish or bad decision and I worry about the repercussions of it.

traveller said...

I don't think that there is any luck we do not get simply becoz we do not deserve or may be we did not work hard or it may even be the other person is an earthly creature who know all the vices and the suger coated tacts which helps him to succeed.

As we are human beings after all we give our own logical reasons not to convince others but are own minds so that voidness and the feeling of being guilty is washed out

Sculptor said...
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