parresia

Protarchus said, "lucky are the

Protarchus said, "lucky are the stones from which altars are made, since they are honored, whilst their fellows are trodden underfoot."

But indeed we know that nothing is either "lucky" or "unlucky" for nothing is caused by luck. For everything has a cause either physical or spiritual; just because we cannot see the cause does not mean that there is not a cause. For if there were no cause at all, then indeed there would be things that come about as a result of luck.

But of what things, if we really wanted to hold onto the notion of luck, would we say are truly caused by luck? What about one who wins a lottery? Did he win by luck? Certainly not; for he won on account of havning the proper numbers on his card that corresponded to the numbers pulled mechanically (albeit at random) from the machine. The account of "being pulled from a machine" is a causal story, and one that leaves no room for luck. What of someone who luckily runs into an old friend as they are going to the market? Did this happen by luck? Alas, how could it be by luck when the man was on his way to the market? The cause for their meeting was definately with cause, namely he was headed to the market-- it just happens to be the case that he also ran into his friend. Again luck is not the cause here.

Luck is NEVER a cause; luck can only be spoken of as a cause. It can be spoken of as a cause in instances where there is an action by choice, e.g., building a guitar, and the agent doing this action happens to be of other causes. For instance it might be said that the brunette built the guitar, for the builder happens to be a brunette. But certainly his being a brunette did not cause the building of the guitar, rather it is only by luck (as we say) that the brunette built the guitar.

So, what can we learn from this lesson? Two things: 1. Luck is not the real cause of anything. and 2. Luck can only be spoken of as a "cause" when the agent doing something in some way houses other factors (like being blond and a dentist), that by coincedence, partake in the action.

Good day.

On a different note, think of St. Paul's words, "Can not God make out of the same lump of clay, some for noble use while others for common use?" when you think of Protarchus' words.