Chance Or Planning

Chance or Planning

Intelligence and planning are necessary factors in scientific research, however

chance and luck are also important and somewhat necessary factors. The

Autobiography of Charles Darwin and the memoir, The Double Helix, written by

James Watson, prove this assertion. Charles Darwin, James Watson and Francis

Crick were all intelligent men that planned their experiments, however without

chance and luck their success and scientific achievement would not be as great.

Intelligence and planning are important in scientific discovery, but are not

always the dominating forces that drive scientific research. Such is the case

with Charles Darwin, James Watson and Francis Crick. All three of these men

were extremely intellectual, but their intellect only contributed partially to

their success. Intellect and planning, combined with chance and luck

contributed to their overall success.

People take chances on a daily basis. If you actually stop and think about it,

life is one big game of chance. It is by chance that we are born, that we

continue to survive, and that we will eventually die. Some people feel that

this cycle occurs do to the will of God, others, like Charles Darwin believe

that it happens based on chance or natural selection. Whatever you believe or

disbelieve, life cannot be planned. No matter how hard a person attempts to

"plan" their path in life, it is by chance and luck where that path takes us.

Darwin's career was also based on chance, not planning. Darwin never planned to

become a scientist or the father of natural selection. It was by pure chance

that he obtained the job on the voyage of the Beagle, which started his career.

Darwin stated about this voyage that, "The voyage of the Beagle has been the by

far the most important event in my life and has determined my whole career. . ."

(Darwin, p.76) Darwin had not planned to take the trip on the Beagle, he

obtained the opportunity by mere chance. One can attempt to "plan" for a job or

career, but chance and luck are the major factors which allow for success.

Although Darwin's intellect played a role in obtaining the position, chance and

luck were the major factors.

Many scientists suffer great strokes of luck. Two other scientists that did

not "plan" their success were James Watson and Francis Crick. These t...

... middle of paper ...

...major contributing factors.

Charles Darwin said that his, ". . . success as a man of science, whatever this

may have amounted to, has been determined, as far as I can judge, by complex and

diversified mental qualities and conditions. Of these the most important have

been - the love of science - unbounded patience in long reflecting over any

subject - industry in observing and collecting facts - and a fair share of

invention as well as common sense. With such moderate abilities as I possess,

it is truly surprising that thus I should have influenced to a considerable

extent the beliefs of scientific men on some important points." (Darwin, p. 145)

Although Darwin stated his theory with clear and concise arguments, it was by

chance that people believed him, considering he could not plan for his future

success.

Although planning is somewhat important in scientific research and discovery,

chance plays a much more important role. Without chance most scientific

discoveries would not have happened. John Lennon was quoted as stating, "Life

is what happens as we make other plans." Science is much like life. One can

not plan for it, it just takes place.