Luck by Nicholas Rescher

Luck by Nicholas Rescher

Luck touches us all. "Why me?" we complain when things go wrong—though seldom when things go right. But although luck has a firm hold on all our lives, we seldom reflect on it in a cogent, concerted way. In Luck, one of our most eminent philosophers offers a realistic view of the nature and operation of luck to help us come to sensible terms with life in a chaotic world. Differentiating luck from fate (inexorable destiny) and fortune (mere chance), Nicholas Rescher weaves a colorful tapestry of historical examples, from the use of lots in the Old and New Testaments to Thomas Gataker\u2019s treatise of 1619 on the great English lottery of 1612, from casino gambling to playing the stock market. Because we are creatures of limited knowledge who do and must make decisions in the light of incomplete information, Rescher argues, we are inevitably at the mercy of luck. It behooves us to learn more about it.

Luck and wisdom, luck and gambling, luck and morality, luck in warfare, luck in elections, luck as friend—Rescher pushes his luck, takes a shot at each of them, and adds lots more besidesHaving decided that people who need people need a proper 'philosophy of luck' book even more, Nicholas Rescher wins his wager. His maiden effort as a trade author is—dare we say it—an auspicious debut.
-Philadelphia Inquirer

Mr. Rescher is surely on to something: what could be more fascinating—and yet so little understood—than luck? . . . Using the tools of conceptual analysis and explanation, Mr. Rescher clarifies a great deal about the baffling phenomenon, all the while insuring that we do not forget the utter randomness and unpredictability of luck's superb surprise.
-New York Times Book Review

A wise, sensible inquiry that throws the floodlight on a topic shrouded in misconceptions.
-Publishers Weekly

An esteemed American philosopher reflects on the nature of luck and its historical role in war business, lotteries, and romance, and deliniates the diferences between luck, fortune, and fate.
-Paper Clips

Nicholas Rescher is Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and co-chairman of the Center for Philosophy of Science. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has served as president of the E

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780822957553
ISBN 10	0822957558
Title	Luck
Author	Nicholas Rescher
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University of Pittsburgh Press
Year published	2001-03-15
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable