Dec 21, 2007 3:00:45 AM cite

The concept of man being in control of life, or anything else, is an illusion. This illusion does serve a positive purpose and fulfills a need in human beings. The positive purpose served is to keep human beings from being overwhelmed by all the traumatic and life threatening possibilities over which we have no control.(ie.tsunamis, terrorist attacks, plane crashes, meteorites,etc.) The need it, the illusion, fulfills is that it removes the feeling of vulnerability. That is why a person is so shocked when something catastrophic, that happens to those 'other people out there', happens to them. The illusionary bubble has been burst and the realization of just how vulnerable one is becomes all too apparent. This control concept is a fairly new philosophical view, starting around the time of Descarte, and growing in popularity as man becomes more technologically advanced. I think this quote by Albert Einstein deserves some thought regarding this question. "Human beings, vegetables or Cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance, by an invisible player."

by aries4548