The science of randomness, flukes, and fate | Brian Klaas
In “The Science of Randomness, Flukes, and Fate,” political scientist Brian Klaas challenges the comforting notion that everything happens for a reason. Drawing from his upcoming book, Fluke, Klaas argues that while we have significant influence over the world, we possess very little control. This realization can transform our understanding of life and our behavior.
Klaas critiques the cognitive biases that arise when we attempt to stitch together coherent narratives from the chaos of existence. He highlights how this desire for order often leads to misleading conclusions about fate and causality. Events often unfold unpredictably, shaped by randomness and external influences we cannot foresee.
Using compelling examples, including a life-saving soccer ball and the global impact of the pandemic, Klaas illustrates the interconnectedness of our lives. He emphasizes that, while we may feel like the protagonists of our stories, recognizing the role of chance can empower us to accept our limitations. By confronting the complexity and unpredictability of life, we can cultivate a more meaningful existence.
Ultimately, Klaas’ message is clear: embracing randomness may seem daunting, but it offers us a more profound appreciation of the intricate web of influences that shape our realities. Explore these thought-provoking ideas in Klaas’s insightful discourse.
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Author Video Description
“When you start to accept that you have profound influence on the world, but very limited control, you start to see the world differently.”
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Up next, We control nothing, but we influence everything | Brian Klaas: Full Interview ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtn2Wxai-ug
We like to believe that everything happens for a reason. But what if that belief is a comforting illusion? Political scientist Brian Klaas argues that randomness, not reason, drives much of human life.
The stories we tell ourselves about cause and effect aren’t reflections of truth, rather, they’re coping mechanisms to make chaos feel like order.
0:00 The limits of control
0:30 Does everything happen for a reason?
1:58 Science and chaos
2:27 Religion and the scientific revolution
4:23 Making sense of patterns
6:56 “The delusion of individualism”
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/myth-of-fate?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Brian Klaas:
Dr. Brian Klaas is an Associate Professor in Global Politics at University College London, an affiliate researcher at the University of Oxford, and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. He is also the author five books, including Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters (2024) and Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us (2021). Klaas writes the popular The Garden of Forking Paths Substack and created the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast, which has been downloaded roughly three million times.
Klaas is an expert on democracy, authoritarianism, American politics, political violence, elections, and the nature of power. Additionally, his research interests include contingency, chaos theory, evolutionary biology, the philosophy of science and social science, and complex systems. In addition to Fluke and Corruptible, Klaas authored three earlier books: The Despot’s Apprentice: Donald Trump’s Attack on Democracy (Hurst & Co, 2017); The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West is Aiding & Abetting the Decline of Democracy, (Oxford University Press, 2016) and How to Rig an Election (Yale University Press, co-authored with Professor Nic Cheeseman; 2018).
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Video “The science of randomness, flukes, and fate | Brian Klaas” was uploaded on 11/06/2025 to Youtube Channel Big Think