Myth of Luck

Steven D. Hales, Ph.D. (Brown) is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA. He works primarily in metaphysics and epistemology, and also in popular philosophy. He has been a Visiting Professor at the Universities of Cambridge, Turin, Edinburgh, and London. He is an award-winning writer and teacher, and has published numerous books and articles. Find him at stevenhales.org.

• Acknowledgements1. Lachesis's Lottery and the History of LuckThe Myth of Er Tuche and FortunaSubmission to luck: lucky charms Rebellion against luck: Stoicism Denial of luck: all is fatedLuck and gambling2.Luck and Skill Slaying Laplace's DemonA probability theory of luck Winners and losersBuying hope on credit A skill equation?Problems with probability3. Fragility and Control Invisible cities of the possibleThe garden of (logically) forking paths A modal theory of luckTransworld 2000 Lucky necessitiesA control theory of luck Séances and rubber hands Wimbledon 2012Synchronic and diachronic luck4. Moral LuckThe Kantian puzzle The Egg of ColumbusThe accidental Nazi and the museum of medical oddities Equalizing fortunePrivilege Essential origins5. Knowledge and SerendipityFinding Meno Discover « forgetThe man who sold the Eiffel Tower and other skeptical threats The Overton WindowSerendipityDivide and conquer 6. The Irrational Biases of LuckThe frame shop Dueling vignettesOptimism vs. pessimismSailing stones and flying witches Machine gamblingAgainst luckGo luck yourselfNotes BibliographyIndex

A fascinating discourse on the nature and significance of luck that draws on a diverse range of sources; a delightful and enlightening journey.