Dear Students,
During the discussion on China last week, and the probems young people face concerning housing, etc. (to say nothing of AI), I was surprised - and perhaps reassured - so see how the whole class faces similar challenges, from whatever country you come from.
Actually, the opportunities for "Gen Z" are not distributed evenly, as some of you will probably get help from the "bank of Mum and Dad" in acceeding to property - and maybe inheriting also later.
This brings me to two observations by two philiosophers:
1/ for Galen Strawsen, "Luck swallows everything":
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/27/success-isnt-free-will-luck-determines-everything-oliver-burkeman
2/ for Michael Sandel, people who succeed tend to believe that it is all down to their own talents and work. This is not true, given the contingencies of life:
https://cours.univ-paris1.fr/mod/resource/view.php?id=1371850
So, if you are lucky and successful, be aware, and if you are not so successful, don't be too hard on yourself!
Kind regards,
Nicholas Sowels
