Luck: Difference between revisions
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'' This article is about good and bad fortune.'' ''There is also:'' [[Luck, Volhynia]] - a town in Ukraine. |
'' This article is about good and bad fortune.'' ''There is also:'' [[Luck, Volhynia]] - a town in Ukraine. |
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'''Luck''' may be analysed from two viewpoints - rationalist and spiritualist. |
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'''Luck''' is a perceived supernatural bias towards experiencing events of good or ill fortune. In accordance to the word's usage in formal context in referece to a past event, luck can be defined as the actuality of the probability of a favorable or unfavorable event. However, there remains the question of who is to say wether a consequence is due to luck (or chance as it were) as apposed to ''purpose''. |
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* As related to the occurences of actual events considered to be of low [[probability]] in a [[mathematics|mathematical]] or [[statistics|statistical]] sense. A [[rationalist]] approach would lead to the conclusion that such matters as wether or not someone bore a victim ill will would have notbearing upon (for example) that person being hit by a loose brick falling from a decrepit bulding. It was only due to a remote statistical probability that the brick's four [[Dimension|dimensional]] time-space path intercepted the 4D path of the victim's head (this was an actual occurance in [[San Francisco]]). In a case like this both rationalists and spiritualists would likely say that the victim was ''unlucky''. |
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*As a [[supernatural]] bias towards experiencing events of good or ill fortune. In this sense some belief that good or bad luck can be influenced through spiritual means or by performing certain rituals. [[Voodoo]] is a religious practice in which this belief is particularly strong, although many cultures worldwide place a strong emphasis on a person's ability to influence their luckyness. In this context there is also the concept of "purpose" to events ascribed to luck. |
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| ⚫ | The belief in luck as a supernatural phenomenon is generally regarded by rationalists as a form of [[magical thinking]]. However, there is evidence that people who believe themselves to have '''good luck''' are more able to take advantage of fortunate chance events in their lives, and to compensate for unfortunate chance events in their lives, than people who believe that they have '''bad luck'''. This appears to be the result of [[positive thinking]] altering their responses to these events. A belief in luck can also indicate a belief in an external [[locus of control]] for events in their life and an escape from personal responsibility. |
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Often those who acscribe their travails to "bad luck" will be found upon close examination to be living [[Risk|risky]] [[Lifestyle|lifestyles]]. For example: a drunk driver may ascribe their arrest to the bad luck of being observed by a patrolman, or the bad luck of being involved in a traffic accident (perhaps not even the victim's fault). |
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On the other hand, people who consider themselves "lucky" in having good health may be actually reaping the befits of a cheerful outlook and satisfying social relationships, both of which are well known [[statistics|statistically]] to be protective against many stress-related diseases. |
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If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck. This is clearly likely to be self-reinforcing. Thus, although untrue, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive [[meme]]. |
If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck. This is clearly likely to be self-reinforcing. Thus, although untrue, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive [[meme]]. |
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The [[gambler's fallacy]] and [[inverse gambler's fallacy]] are both related to belief in luck. |
The [[gambler's fallacy]] and [[inverse gambler's fallacy]] are both related to belief in luck. |
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Most cultures consider some [[numerology|numbers]] to be lucky or unlucky. |
Most cultures consider some [[numerology|numbers]] to be lucky or unlucky. This is found to be particularly strong in Asian cultures, where the obtaining of "lucky" telephone numbers, automobile license plate numbers, and household addresses are actively sought, sometimes at great monetary expense. |
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Popular sayings and quotations related to luck: |
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*"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" - |
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See also: |
See also: |
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Revision as of 18:41, 19 August 2004
This article is about good and bad fortune. There is also: Luck, Volhynia - a town in Ukraine.
Luck may be analysed from two viewpoints - rationalist and spiritualist.
- As related to the occurences of actual events considered to be of low probability in a mathematical or statistical sense. A rationalist approach would lead to the conclusion that such matters as wether or not someone bore a victim ill will would have notbearing upon (for example) that person being hit by a loose brick falling from a decrepit bulding. It was only due to a remote statistical probability that the brick's four dimensional time-space path intercepted the 4D path of the victim's head (this was an actual occurance in San Francisco). In a case like this both rationalists and spiritualists would likely say that the victim was unlucky.
- As a supernatural bias towards experiencing events of good or ill fortune. In this sense some belief that good or bad luck can be influenced through spiritual means or by performing certain rituals. Voodoo is a religious practice in which this belief is particularly strong, although many cultures worldwide place a strong emphasis on a person's ability to influence their luckyness. In this context there is also the concept of "purpose" to events ascribed to luck.
The belief in luck as a supernatural phenomenon is generally regarded by rationalists as a form of magical thinking. However, there is evidence that people who believe themselves to have good luck are more able to take advantage of fortunate chance events in their lives, and to compensate for unfortunate chance events in their lives, than people who believe that they have bad luck. This appears to be the result of positive thinking altering their responses to these events. A belief in luck can also indicate a belief in an external locus of control for events in their life and an escape from personal responsibility.
Often those who acscribe their travails to "bad luck" will be found upon close examination to be living risky lifestyles. For example: a drunk driver may ascribe their arrest to the bad luck of being observed by a patrolman, or the bad luck of being involved in a traffic accident (perhaps not even the victim's fault).
On the other hand, people who consider themselves "lucky" in having good health may be actually reaping the befits of a cheerful outlook and satisfying social relationships, both of which are well known statistically to be protective against many stress-related diseases.
If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck. This is clearly likely to be self-reinforcing. Thus, although untrue, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive meme.
The gambler's fallacy and inverse gambler's fallacy are both related to belief in luck.
Most cultures consider some numbers to be lucky or unlucky. This is found to be particularly strong in Asian cultures, where the obtaining of "lucky" telephone numbers, automobile license plate numbers, and household addresses are actively sought, sometimes at great monetary expense.
Popular sayings and quotations related to luck:
- "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" -
See also: