Why do we humans have such a strong need for predictions?

Exactly. Why do we humans have such a strong need for predictions? Are we really so powerless that we can suffice with someone who is telling us how our future will be?

Are we really so powerless, that we cannot creature our own future - without any predictions, guides, prophecies, saviors or messiahs?

Are we really so weak, that we have to submit ourselves to some prediction and use years of our lives to fear it, although it never comes true anyway?



Don't you think it's time to wake up and take control of your lives?

Fear of the unknown. Predictions help people to better prepare for something they may think is bound to happen than to be caught with their pants down. I think it also has to do with a desire to guide our life in the direction we want it to go. But to be honest, we probably do spend too much time predicting things than living our lives.

I think it is just an attempt to protect ourself from "chaos" and unpredictability of universe. All is much more order-like if life will end on ab.cd.ef or stars will be good to you just do not buy apples.
Kids try to find order and rules of universe - by trusting adults. Adults - by trusting other supposedly more knowledgeable/connected adult. Or webbot - 21st century after all.

People are scared of the future, and they want change.

Not a one liner.

Not all humans are prone to make predictions. It takes a certain personality type. The intuitive. It takes both logic and intuition to think in terms of possibilities and probabilities.

It's what happens, when either a person projects his personal fears unto the world. It also happens when thw world projects her personal tensions unto the individual. Many projections lately because both the average individual and the world as a whole, is under considerable stress these days.

Maybe we are looking for hope....something to believe in. The world is a scary place.

Originally posted by Anonymous ATS
Not all humans are prone to make predictions. It takes a certain personality type. The intuitive. It takes both logic and intuition to think in terms of possibilities and probabilities.

It's what happens, when either a person projects his personal fears unto the world. It also happens when thw world projects her personal tensions unto the individual. Many projections lately because both the average individual and the world as a whole, is under considerable stress these days.

Indeed. And that make one think, of course: are the predictions caused due to the media's actual spiritual insight - or the fear caused due to imagination.

reply to post by Spooky Fox Mulder


I think the strong need for predictions is almost involuntary, call it human nature or whatever you want.

Arrogance and confidence. mix the two, and you get a future that seems so clear. It is the problem of "induction" , when we use the knowledge of the past, and conduct experiments that give the same result (or similar) time and time again, and we see a pattern. The pattern is consistent enough to expect the same result in the future. This is why "predicting" makes sense, but I mentioned it being the problem of induction because, obviously if this were true, there would be no surprises in the stock market, plane accidents, lottery wins, etc.

Predicting has it's benefits just look at all the professions out there that are based off suckers.
People get paid money to guess. The status-quo of the "experts" brings in the mulla, because of people that feel the "expert's" guess is going to help them with their investments. But we all know guessing the economy can be as chaotic as guessing (or even calculating, if you will) a hurricane path 2 months in advance.

as for things like Apocalyptic predictions, history repeats itself, again and again, and every prediction is the same, the end is near... - no its not. The need for an Apocalyptic prediction is the want for a fulfilling propriety in society: or the end is near so we all share the same fate - a warning to guide behaviors.
How I look at it anyway.

It seems the end result of prediction is flawed yet in good intentions. The only thing predictable about the future is that it will be unpredictable imo.








[edit on 22-11-2008 by juveous]

The most miserable human condition is one of . . . uncertainty.

i think we all want to 'see around the corner' as it were

i went to a Psychic-Card Reader/Fortuneteller just once,
for the reason to 'prove' to my fiance' that our marriage would only
last for 12 years... as i was due to become deceased by age 32...


know what.... both myself & the professional paid psychic were correct...
but it didn't play out as either of us could have seen it.


We are looking for absolutes in a world that is vague,
that's why 'we' (generalized term) seek prediction(s) about ourselves or the world in which we live


thanks

Religion started predictions, and everything has come from that. # organized religion with the controlling techniques, keep em in order!!! Push your beliefs onto the individuals not well enough to make up their own minds.

Predictions comes from your ability to see , hear , smell , remember , recognize and to sett things into perspective.
These are the bases for knowledge and imagination. And you need knowledge and imagination to be able to know what your predicting.

to get an edge on life.
i dont want to know when i'll die , but i want to
know the winning lottery numbers.