"Fate"

"Fate"



     While studying psychology over the summer, I came across a very interesting theory, a self-fulfilling prophecy. "A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior." This relates directly to my reasoning for why people believed so much in fate, 'back in the day'. I like to think that there is a scientific reason behind every "coincidence" that occurs in life. People, back in the day when Oedipus was alive, truly believed what these so-called oracles, preach. By them fully believing that what they are told, they then start the process of a self-fulfilling prophecy. They will subconsciously direct their lives into positions where they are bound to fulfil what the oracle claims is their fate. I am sure that not all people in Oedipus' society meet their, so called, fate, and they are just not important enough to make up a story about. It seems very selfish to believe that everything in the world will bend and change to accommodate for one person's "fate". If that were the case, the world would be filled with more chaos than it already has, and wouldn't possibly be able to occur without people noticing it in their daily lives.

   We all have had our say on what fate is during our discussion, and even I have now shared my point of view. What I would like to focus on for this blog is the bigger picture. Why do we all feel it necessary to express our point of views on very personal topics like that of fate or religion? I find that question and its many answers much more interesting than what one of my classmates claims the meaning of life is. I think it is natural for humans to want to convince others that their beliefs are correct, but why? Because it is the highest act of self justification. People want to think that they are correct, in all instances. They want to think that because it would obviously make them feel better about the world, and themselves as a human in society. I know there is a lot more to this and other actions that cause the belief in fate.

   All in all, Oedipus and his society had a completely valid reason for believing in fate, and by believing in it, with the help of self-fulfilling prophecy, they guarantee it will come true.