On August 19, 1949, a British European Airways DC-3 crashed in Saddleworth Moor, near Oldham, resulting in the death of crew and passengers. Prof Stephen Evans, one of the survivors, highlights the concept of luck, ranging from circumstantial to constitutive, influencing outcomes beyond control. Juliane Koepcke’s survival after a plane crash in the Amazon underscores the role of constitutive luck due to her upbringing in the region. Sir David Spiegelhalter emphasizes existential luck in our presence on Earth, urging humility and resilience in acknowledging the unpredictable events that led to our existence. The article challenges perceptions of self-importance and encourages making the best of life’s circumstances.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/07/the-big-idea-should-we-be-thinking-about-luck-differently