Is There Order in the Chaos…?
No. Don’t worry. We’re not going to discuss some obscure mathematical theories about the hidden nature of the universe. The question is more about the nature of our perception and how our view imposes a surprising degree of interpretation upon what should be an objective analysis of reality. The way we see things tells us a great deal about what we believe we’re observing. We see an apparent demonstration of disorder and conclude that we must be witnessing the presence of chaos. And chaos can be deeply unsettling for humans. As you know, we greatly prefer certainty to doubt and generally favour the predictable over the uncertain.
Let’s take a simple example of how we constantly seek to define the world around us. Despite advances in computing power and the rise of Artificial Intelligence, we still don’t have completely reliable models for predicting the weather. The planet’s meteorological systems are too complex and there are too many variables to permit a complete insight into how weather patterns are likely to unfold. Weather, as I’m sure you’ve observed, can be fairly chaotic and the same conclusion can often be applied to many aspects of our lives. The world can appear to be disturbingly chaotic. But is this really the case?
When a Soviet-era economist proposed that capitalist economies will always experience boom-bust cycles and suggested a connection between sunspot activity, grain harvests and the likelihood of war and revolution, his ideas suggested the presence of subtle, long-term cycles in the affairs of humans that could help us predict the likelihood of major events with greater certainty. The notion that even the most chaotic systems concealed patterns of underlying order gave rise to an interest in Chaos Theory and this has led to some interesting conclusions. Despite the superficial appearances of randomness and disorder, if the fundamental nature of the universe is to follow set patterns that reveal an elusive yet precise degree of order, then we might be tempted to apply this principle to all aspects of our lives. The presence of incontrovertible order might suggest that much of what we experience is preordained. It’s a surprising and unexpected conclusion from an economic theory that originally sought to explain the long-wave cycles that favour and disrupt so much of human progress. A soviet-era economist was certainly not seeking the invisible hand of Fate to explain the long-term patterns that punctuated the rise and fall of empires. But, on a purely psychological level, there is a measure of merit in accepting that some events are inevitable and, because they cannot be avoided, they do not deserve our fear, stress, anger, resentment or frustration. Our energy deserves a more positive and productive outlet. Where we retain the absolute power of choice is in how we choose to react. Shaking our fists at the callous hand of fate only adds to our feelings of being powerless. Choosing to address the challenges and work towards a better life and a better world is a powerful antidote to the inevitable disappointments and setbacks we encounter. Understanding that there are deep cycles that shape many of the events we witness in the world can lend a reassuring insight into life’s uncertainties. We might not be able to discern the patterns but, knowing that they are operating across the fabric of the world, removes many of the doubts and uncertainties that intrude upon our health and peace of mind.