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Coincidences
Apr. 3rd, 2005 02:55 pmI believe in coincidence: that is, I believe that it happens, and I believe that it is coincidence - a meaningless, random coming-together of elements.
Thursday evening illustrates this:
( Two examples )
I've heard humanity described as a species that tells stories; I think that's only part of it, and that we are a species which looks for patterns. And because the world is huge and various, we find them. We discard all the white noise of daily existence, the occasions on which you were just thinking about somebody and they don't turn up, when we hear a familiar name once and then nothing happens. And having sifted out all of our experience that doesn't make patterns, we behave as if it means something when we are left with things that do.
Thursday evening illustrates this:
( Two examples )
I've heard humanity described as a species that tells stories; I think that's only part of it, and that we are a species which looks for patterns. And because the world is huge and various, we find them. We discard all the white noise of daily existence, the occasions on which you were just thinking about somebody and they don't turn up, when we hear a familiar name once and then nothing happens. And having sifted out all of our experience that doesn't make patterns, we behave as if it means something when we are left with things that do.
