Chain of Causation

"Fate is the endless chain of causation, whereby things are; the reason or formula by which the world goes by." - Zeno of Citium (Pic of statue on left)

I find it curious that philosophers in ancient Greece were discussing the "chain of causality" and yet even today, thousands of years later, people still don't get it.

I remember my Beginning Rider Course teachers discussing this. Break one link in the chain and it is broken. Not a real difficult concept.

Yesterday I rode to the smoke shop for a pack of cigarettes. I arrived back at my bike and fumbled the pack, dropping it next to my rear tire. I bend over to pick it up and loose my balance. Left hand goes down by reflex to steady myself. Unfortunately, the first thing it touched was the hot muffler. I now have two fingers pretty badly burnt on the back. There was a "chain of causality" here, but one I accept, and one I learn from. There is no one to blame.

There are some people who don't seem to accept this causality thing. They do stupid things like drive drunk, take drugs, misuse prescription medicines. When things start to go to hell, they are not introspective; they seek to lay blame. When a corporeal body will not, or cannot accept blame, then it is God's fault.

Did God give you your car keys after you drank a six-pack and say, "Have a nice drive?" Did God give you that cocaine and say, "Man, that's some good shit!" Did God tell you to chew your Oxycontins or take too many anti-depressants?

No. YOU started that car. YOU snorted that coke. YOU took that hand full of pills. Those who choose to ignore cause and effect have only themselves to blame.

>>>Tomorrow - Part 2 of Lamenting the Standard.