The word serendipity was used by the first time by Horace Walpole in the 18th century. The word comes from the Persian story “The three princess of Serendip”, who were always making discoveries by accident. The current definition of the word by the Merria-Webster dictionary is “ the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”
Even though “luck” is the first word that comes to my mind when trying to explain serendipity, there are mainly five key terms needed to really understand its meaning:
-Accident
-Sagacity
-Fate
-Knowledge
-And of course, luck.
So we can say that serendipity is not mere luck. It is actually to take advantage of the opportunities you encounter and have the tools (knowledge) for it. Numerous scientific discoveries are defined as accidents, but that is a miss concept, it is actually the result of serendipity.
Maybe an example can portray what it truly means. There is a popular story that Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree, an apple hit his head, and he suddenly defined the gravitational law. Many people would say that it was luck or an accident that the apple fell exactly when he was sitting there. The truth is, many apples fall daily, but Newton was the only one to associate it with gravity. Indeed it was accident, luck or fate that the apple fell but it was Newton’s sagacity, and knowledge the responsible to put it all together.
Comic by Maria de Lourdes Silva Willson
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pf2JPi6OVg
Guri, I found your blog very interesting for the way you explain the idea that serendipity is not only luck but also the need to know how to take advantage of that situation.That explain us why not everyone can invent something...
ReplyDeleteAlso the language that you used was very easy to read and with the attached video and you AWESOME comic the idea was very clear!
Eduardo Segura (Eddie) A4
Maria de Lourdes Silva Willson, I must say I found this a very peculiar blog to read. First of all I think it was an interactive blog, readers were able to see cartoons and watch videos, and this made it easier both to read and understand. I also think the references you included to the origins of the word; the modern definition of it and its application serve all well to portray your point that serendipity is not luck but the conjunction of it with wisdom.
ReplyDeleteFelipe Martinez G5