Should we, as humans, be allowed to reach for the stars? | Michael Liechti | TEDxEHLLausanne

Key Concepts

• Luck & Chance: The significant, often underestimated, role of external factors in achieving success and experiencing fulfillment.
• Entropy: A fundamental principle in physics representing the tendency towards chaos and disorder, and its implications for human life and morality.
• Fragility of Life: The inherent vulnerability of human existence and the inevitability of failure despite best efforts.
• Moral Responsibility: The importance of acting to reduce suffering and foster positive change, even without a defined ultimate goal.
• The Asymmetry of Happiness & Suffering: The relative ease of inducing misery compared to achieving lasting happiness.
• Importance of Feedback: The value of receiving honest criticism for personal and professional growth.

The Illusion of Deserved Success: A Reflection on Luck, Entropy, and Human Connection

The speaker begins by posing a challenging question: do we truly deserve the achievements in our lives? This question is prompted by a deeply personal experience volunteering as a first responder with the Swiss Samaritan organization.

The Emergency Call & Initial Lessons

The speaker recounts responding to a cardiac arrest of an elderly man. Despite the efforts of himself, colleagues, and a concerned neighbor, the man could not be saved. This experience yielded three initial lessons: the fragility of human life, the inevitability of failure despite sincere effort, and a questioning of personal deservingness.

Privilege and the Role of Circumstance

The speaker acknowledges his own extraordinary good fortune – being born in Switzerland towards the end of the 20th century, having supportive parents, a stable upbringing, a fulfilling career as a high school teacher, and a happy family life. He emphasizes that by objective measures (life expectancy, health, security), he lives a remarkably successful life. He extends this observation to suggest that many in the audience likely share similar privileges. However, he reiterates the central question: does this success equate to deservingness?

The Underestimation of Luck & Chance

The speaker argues that we significantly underestimate the role of luck and chance in our lives. He posits that no one chooses their birth circumstances – their era, country, family, genetics, or even their inherent interests and abilities. If these foundational elements are largely determined by chance, how can we claim sole authorship of our achievements? He challenges the conventional narrative of success being solely attributable to hard work and good decisions.

A Task for the Audience & The Asymmetry of Experience

He pauses to assign two tasks to the audience: to remember the neighbor who assisted during the emergency and to critically evaluate his presentation. This is followed by a discussion of the asymmetry between happiness and suffering. He illustrates this point by suggesting that while it’s difficult to conceive of a way to permanently increase happiness, it’s remarkably easy to identify numerous ways to drastically increase misery. This observation leads to the introduction of the concept of entropy – a physics principle stating that chaos and uncertainty increase in any system unless actively countered.

Entropy, Morality, and Guiding the Next Generation

The speaker explains that entropy (the tendency towards disorder) highlights the need for conscious effort to combat suffering. He suggests that a moral philosophy can be built on the principle of minimizing suffering, even without a clear ultimate goal. This leads to four key points for educators and those entrusted with guiding the next generation:

1. Avoid Deception: Acknowledge the inherent fragility of life and the possibility of unforeseen setbacks. “There is no guarantee. What you take for granted can be over in a blink of an eye.”
2. Recognize Unequal Starting Points: Acknowledge that individuals are not responsible for their circumstances of birth and that everyone possesses the potential for suffering.
3. Embrace Collective Action: Highlight the human capacity to work together, help each other, and build a better future despite the inherent chaos.
4. Foster Holistic Development: Encourage the development of cognitive, creative, ethical capacities, and skills in young people, as these will be crucial for navigating future challenges.

The Value of Honest Feedback & A Symphony of Existence

The speaker acknowledges his own fallibility as a presenter, referencing his difficulty speaking without losing his voice. He reiterates the importance of seeking honest feedback, particularly from those being guided (students, colleagues, children). He proposes that if the history of humankind were a symphony, it would be characterized by discord and cacophony interspersed with moments of harmony, ultimately trending towards more beautiful melodies over time. He acknowledges the existence of war, hunger, disease, and suffering, but counters this with the presence of empathy, friendship, beauty, and progress.

The Final Lesson: Unexpected Kindness

Returning to the initial emergency call, the speaker recounts returning to his car to find the battery dead and the windows down during a rainstorm. Unexpectedly, the neighbor – the same man who had assisted during the emergency, and who had just lost his friend – had covered the speaker’s car with a tarp to protect it from the rain. This act of kindness represents the third lesson learned: while we may not be deserving of fulfillment, acts of mutual support and compassion can provide unexpected shelter during difficult times.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that while we may not be responsible for our achievements or deserving of fulfillment, striving to help one another and fostering a spirit of collaboration can lead to unexpected kindness and a more hopeful future. The universe, he suggests, may offer solace and support to those who extend it to others. “If we try hard, if we listen to one another, if we help each other and grow together, then the universe may send us someone who will shelter us when it rains.”