Revision as of 09:32, 15 August 2004 edit 81.57.125.70 (talk) add fr		Revision as of 09:38, 19 August 2005 edit 196.31.127.25 (talk) →Sayings
Line 1: [[de:Glück]] [[pt:Sorte]] ~~<div style="float:right;">~~ ''This article is about good and bad fortune. There is also: [[Luck, Volhynia]], a town in [[Ukraine]], and [[Luck, Wisconsin]], a village in the [[USA]].'' ~~[[image:AntonioSalazar.jpg]]~~ ---- ~~</div>~~ '''Luck''' may be analysed from three viewpoints: rational, social, and spiritual. ==Rational viewpoint== As related to the occurrences of actual events considered to be of low [[probability]] in a [[mathematics\|mathematical]] or [[statistics\|statistical]] sense. A [[rationalist]] approach would lead to the conclusion that such matters as whether or not someone bore a victim ill will would have no bearing upon (for example) that person being hit by a loose brick falling from a decrepit building. It was only due to a remote statistical probability that the brick's four [[Dimension\|dimensional]] [[Spacetime\|space-time]] path intercepted the 4D path of the victim's head (this was an actual occurrence in [[San Francisco]]). In a case like this both rationalists and spiritualists would likely say that the victim was ''unlucky''. In an example of good luck, a person winning a [[lottery]] would generally be considered lucky, although a rationalist might point out that there was bound to be a winner sooner or later, and there was actually nothing lucky about ''someone'' winning - it was merely a [[probability\|probabilistic]] event. It is doubful that the winner would agree with that analysis, however. ==Social viewpoint== As a [[Society\|social]] phenomenon, there is much truth in the saying "what goes around, comes around" (see [[karma]]). On the one hand, those who are kind and generous to others are usually perceived as open and accepting and so more likely to be freely offered assistance from others. They are also more likely to also be able to ask for and receive help from others in time of need. On the other hand, those who are asocial or anti-social are less likely ask for assistance or to be offered assistance by others. The open, generous and cheerful person is more likely to be classified by others as lucky, while the curmudgeon is more likely to be considered by others or to consider him/her self unlucky. ~~'''António de Oliveira Salazar''' ([[April 28]], [[1889]] - [[July 27]], [[1970]]) was the prime minister of [[Portugal]] from [[1932]] to [[1968]], noted for the autocratic nature of his government.~~ ==Supernatural viewpoint== Initially, Salazar was a professor of political [[economics]] at the University of [[Coimbra]]. He became [[finance minister]] in [[1928]] and [[Prime Minister]] of Portugal in [[1932]]. Most historians consider [[dictatorship]] a more apt term for his rule. In [[1933]] he introduced a new [[constitution]] to Portugal, which gave him almost unlimited powers, establishing an [[authoritarian]] [[fascist]] regime in the country. There is also sometimes considered to be a [[supernatural]] bias towards experiencing events of good or ill fortune. In this sense some believe that one's own or another's good or bad luck can be influenced through spiritual means or by performing certain rituals or by avoiding certain (from a rational viewpoint non-relevant) situations. [[Voodoo]] is a religious practice in which this belief is particularly strong, although many cultures worldwide place a strong emphasis on a person's ability to influence their luckiness by ritualistic means. This often involves proper respect for spirits, believed to inhabit a ___location prior to human occupation. In some cultures, if one builds a house on a property it is respectful to provide a small [[spirit house]] for their habitation. In other cultures, a building may be interrupted by a passageway to allow the flow of spiritual energy - the ___location being determined by an expert in such matters. In such cultures, ignoring such matters is believed to lead to misfortune - ''bad luck''. In this context there is also the concept of "purpose" to events ascribed to luck, good or bad. ==Effects of viewpoint and beliefs== Salazar was handed power by President [[António de Fragoso Carmona]] in 1932 and gained major support from different elements of society. The anarchy of the republican era meant that the army, church, monarchists, upper middle classes, aristocrats and the right all preferred Salazar to the previous [[junta]]s. The belief in luck as a supernatural phenomenon is generally regarded by rationalists as a form of [[magical thinking]]. However, there is evidence that people who believe themselves to have '''good luck''' are more able to take advantage of fortunate chance events in their lives, and to compensate for unfortunate chance events in their lives, than people who believe that they have '''bad luck'''. This appears to be the result of [[positive thinking]] altering their responses to these events. A belief in luck can also indicate a belief in an external [[locus of control]] for events in their life and so escape from personal responsibility. Some philosophers argue that we each "create our own reality", literally and not metaphorically, and in that context what appears to be good luck can be interpreted as having beliefs that encourage or create what are putatively good outcomes. Salazar developed the "[[Estado Novo (Portugal)\|Estado Novo]]" (literally, ''New State''). The basis of his dictatorship was a platform of stability; his reforms greatly privileged the upper classes to the detriment of the poorer sections of society. Education was not seen as a priority and therefore not invested in. Salazar had a [[secret police]] named [[PIDE]] that repressed dissent. However, unlike many of his contemporary dictators, Salazar's regime was less bloody due to Portugal's lack of a [[death penalty]]. A fervent [[Catholic]], Salazar made religious education compulsory in schools and Catholicism was Portugal's official religion during his tenure. ===Risky lifestyles=== During [[World War II]], Salazar steered Portugal down a middle path. Although a dictator and a supporter of [[Nationalist Spain]] (he sent them aid during their fight against the Republicans), like [[Franco]] he never sided with the [[Nazi]]s. The [[Iberia]]n [[neutrality]] pact was put forward by Salazar to [[Franco]] in 1939. Indeed Salazar provided aid to the Allies, letting them use the [[Azores]] as a base though he provided little else in the way of support. Siding with the [[Axis]] would have meant that Portugal would have been at war with Britain, which would have threatened Portuguese colonies. Often those who ascribe their travails to "bad luck" will be found upon close examination to be living [[Risk\|risky]] [[Lifestyle\|lifestyles]]. For example: a drunk driver may ascribe their arrest to the bad luck of being observed by a patrolman, or the bad luck of being involved in a traffic accident (perhaps not even the victim's fault), as a way of avoiding personal responsibility for his/her actions. ===Positive outlook=== In 1945 Portugal was in control of the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]], [[Cape Verde]] Islands, [[São Tomé\|São Tomé e Principe]], [[Angola]] (including [[Cabinda]]), [[Guinea-Bissau\|Portuguese Guinea]], and [[Mozambique]] in Africa, [[Goa (state)\|Goa]] [[Damão]] and [[Diu]], in [[India]], [[Macau]] in [[China]] and [[East Timor\|Portuguese Timor]] in [[Southeast Asia]]. Salazar saw no need to expand the colonies, just to ensure Portuguese control over them. The colonies formed the basis of Salazar's dependence upon the empire and national pride in Portugal's status as the third colonial power. On the other hand, people who consider themselves "lucky" in having good health may be actually reaping the benefits of a cheerful outlook and satisfying social relationships, both of which are well known [[statistics\|statistically]] to be protective against many stress-related diseases. ===Effects=== Salazar wanted Portugal to be important internationally, and the country's large colonial holdings made this possible, while Portugal itself remained a closed state with little influence from the Western powers. Portugal was admitted to [[NATO]] in 1949 and this reflected Portugal's new role as an ally against [[communism]]. If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck. This is clearly likely to be self-reinforcing. Thus, although untrue, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive [[meme]]. The [[gambler's fallacy]] and [[inverse gambler's fallacy]] are both related to belief in luck. From the Indian capture of Portuguese [[Portuguese India\|cities]] in 1961 and until after Salazar's death, the empire remained a continual source of trouble for Portugal, especially in the [[Africa]]n colonial wars. ==Numerology== In [[1968]] Salazar became seriously ill with brain damage after falling from a chair, forcing President Américo Tomás to dismiss him as Prime Minister. His successor was [[Marcelo Caetano]]. To his dying day, Salazar thought that he was still Prime Minister. Most cultures consider some [[numerology\|numbers]] to be lucky or unlucky. This is found to be particularly strong in Asian cultures, where the obtaining of "lucky" [[telephone number]]s, automobile [[license plate]] numbers, and [[address (geography)\|household addresses]] are actively sought, sometimes at great [[Money\|monetary]] expense. ==Sayings== ~~See also: [[List of Prime Ministers of Portugal]], [[List of Presidents of Portugal]], [[Politics of Portugal]]~~ Popular sayings and quotations related to luck: * "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" - * "You make your own luck" - * "When it rains, it pours" - this is an expression of the mathematical property of statistically independent events to bunch together. * "Bad things happen in threes" - see above * "Luck is the residue of design" - [[Branch Rickey]] * When something happens by "sheer dumb luck", it is considered to have happened unintentionally and without planning. * "Luck doesn't exist." There are more variations on this phrase than can be listed here, but not enough to make believers care. * "Luck be your lady tonight" * A famous Samuel Goldwyn quote sums up the rationalist view: "The harder I work, the luckier I get". Or an equally famous [[Gary Player]] quote "The harder I practise, the luckier I get". * [[Knocking on wood]], spoken expression used as a [[charm]] to bring good luck. * "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" - [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]]. * "Luck can only get you so far" by Hermione, referring to a "luck potion Felix Felicis" in {{Harry Potter]] (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) ==Items or events== ~~[[de:António de Oliveira Salazar]]~~ Several items or happenings are considered lucky or unlucky. ~~[[fr:Antonio de Oliveira Salazar]]~~ ===Lucky=== ~~[[he:אנטוניו דה אוליביירה סלזר]]~~ Finding a [[penny]] on heads ~~[[nl:António de Oliveira Salazar]]~~ [[Horseshoe]]s ~~[[ja:アントニオ・サラザール]]~~ Four-leaf [[clovers]] [[Rabbit]]'s [[feet]] [[Ladybug]]s ===Unlucky=== ~~[[Category:Portuguese politicians\|Salazar, António de Oliveira]]~~ [[Friday]] the [[13 (number)\|13]]th The number 13 (Many buildings skipped 13 when numbering their floors for this reason) [[Black]] [[cat]] crossing your path Stepping on a crack (it breaks the mother of the stepper's back) Breaking a [[mirror]] (seven years bad luck) Spilling over [[salt]] (but you can get rid of the bad luck by throwing the salt over your left shoulder). Putting a hat on a bed Opening an [[umbrella]] indoors Seeing three butterflies at the same time Killing a ladybug Walking underneath a [[ladder]] ==Luck in fiction== [[Gladstone Gander]], a fictional [[cartoon]] character, is dependent solely upon his good luck. [[Joe Btfsplk]], a character in the [[Li'l Abner]] (Little Abner) [[comic strip]] by the cartoonist [[Al Capp]] is not only unlucky, he is shunned by the other characters as they suspect (with good reason) that this bad luck may be [[infection\|infectious]]. In [[Larry Niven\|Larry Niven's]] novel ''[[Ringworld]]'', the character [[Teela Brown]] was the incredibly lucky result of a centuries-long breeding program initiated by the alien [[Pierson's Puppeteers]] directed to just such an outcome. The consequence of her state was that she'd led such a charmed and worry-free life that she was emotionally immature and unprepared for "harsh reality." In [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series, luck is an [[Anthropomorphism\|anthropomorphic personification]] known as the Lady, who, while not a goddess, is powerful enough to be the rival of the god Fate. [[Eugene Horowitz]] from [[Hey Arnold]] is known for the bad luck he constantly has, though his [[optimism]] always makes his personality win over it. In the [[Harry Potter]] novels, there is a [[potion]], [[Felix Felicis]], which gives its drinker good luck. [[Furrball]] the cat in ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' is a perpetually unfortunate feline, forever suffering mishaps, though frequently it's his own actions (i.e. overwhelming greed) that get him into trouble (not unlike mentor Sylvester the cat). ==See also== [[Curse]] [[Destiny]] [[Evil eye]] [[Fate]] [[Folk religion]] [[Irrationality]] [[Magic (paranormal)]] [[Probability]] [[Statistics]] *[[Superstition]]

António de Oliveira Salazar and Luck: Difference between pages