Had an interesting discussion with a friend recently on whether or not fate exists. My thoughts? It's like lots of things in that it's a way to describe the way that we perceive events that make logical probabilistic sense. Nobody remembers the tons of things that aren't coincidental or have an eerie rightness to them. We remember the few that are and label them fate - our perception of the mathematically expected number of phenomena that are bound to happen in a universe of many possibilities that will seem freakishly like they were meant to be.
Yeah, that's the logical side of me speaking.
The side that's still subject to human perceptions? Wondering a little more recently than I used to.
Do you believe in fate?
--Nick
(Reading back this entry before posting, I realize it'll be strange for most of you. So it goes.)
Posted by Nick at February 24, 2004 02:42 AM | TrackBackI don't believe in much, but I like to entertain the idea of something fate-like operating in the universe. And since it's a flight of fancy rather than a belief, I get to make the rules--so in my concept of fate, there aren't things that *must* happen (random chance still plays a role, and people still make choices), but there are opportunities the universe wants to present you with, and it will do so repeatedly if necessary. So your fate follows you around, and will tend to catch up with you eventually even if chance interferes here and there, but you still get to accept the opportunities or not. Also, in my flight of fancy, the universe is benevolent, so the opportunities following you around are nice friendly things, not big scary evil things.
How's that for strange?
Posted by: Laura at February 24, 2004 02:41 PMHave you gone and lost it, Nick? Only crazies believe in fate! ;)
Posted by: Kara at February 25, 2004 10:37 AMLaura - I wouldn't say strange, necessarily ... it's a very optimistic and pleasant view, which sounds a lot like I'd expect from you.
--Nick
Posted by: Nick at February 25, 2004 10:07 PM"Optimistic and pleasant" is to be expected from me, huh? I think I'll take that as a compliment. :-)
Posted by: Laura at February 26, 2004 01:04 AMhi nick!
Posted by: sneaky homunculous at February 27, 2004 04:15 AMHI NICK!!!
Posted by: STOMPING MEGASMURF at February 27, 2004 10:13 AMKirby is getting big. No, that has nothing to do with fate. The most fateful thing that has happened today was me getting a migraine and having to skip my soccer game, which enabled me to write the first 6 pages of a paper on primary care strategic planning instead of wasting the entire day. Hmm. Not a very sexy fate story. Oh well.
Posted by: Can my name be anything? at March 6, 2004 08:47 PMYes, your name can be anything. :)
Perhaps not fateful, but convenient nonetheless - having your work done is going to turn out to be pleasant. :)
Sorry you had a migraine, though ...
--Nick
Posted by: Nick at March 8, 2004 05:43 PM