It isn't simply luck. We have social, economic, and political structures that reinforce the "luck" in being born into a particular class. That isn't simply a function of chance.

The value of plain dumb luck in life can't be overstated. It's often the difference between success and failure, misery and happiness, life and death. The problem is no one ever tells you that. They sell a feel-good story of hard work and positive thinking as if these things will make all the difference. These things are certainly useful but luck is what takes one to the top. Ringo Starr had it, Pete Best didn't. Stephen King had it, HP Lovecraft didn't. Pablo Picasso had it, Vincent Van Gogh didn't. There are literally millions of example throughout history.

I have had A Lot of physical challenges in my life and feel strongly that any "luck" i was ever issued has been used up in keeping me in one piece.

The bottom line on fairness/justice is that it can of course never be achieved. BUT having said that, you are either working towards it or you are not, and if you are not, then what else could you possibly be doing with your life that is worth the effort.

I was always a devotee of chaos theory anyway, not only is everything due to luck, but luck is too complex to ever be understood as well.

Luck, privilege, equality, empathy all in one amazing article! I think I'll be re-reading and thinking about this for awhile. Thanks!

does a good job explaining why most well off people could not care less for the less fortunate.
the most despicable are those that get to the top from humble beginnings & then don't understand why everyone else couldn't be as successful.

The more I think about the concept of fairness the less it makes sense. Everything is random and chaotic from birth. It is not possible for things to be fair in anyway. Of course if things were fair then they would be exactly equal and predictable for everyone and that would be boring, so i wouldn't have it any other way.

Eh. I bought a lottery ticket today. Has to happen to someone. I prefer to think of it as a donation.

Old aviator saying;
"Better to be lucky than good".
I was lucky.

Luck is real but it is random. I bought 2 lotto tickets tonight. The randomness of "luck" would say my chances might be the same if I bought 4000 or more. Luck is totally random and has no moral implications. See my new book "Why Good Things Happen To Bad People."

I prefer the term randomness over luck.

I read an article in a chess magazine that not only made the case for it but classified luck into 3 types.

Yes! A realistic acceptance of the part luck plays in our existence feeds strongly into empathy.
"There, but for the grace of God, go I."