I was watching a television special earlier this week about the 10 most fascinating people of 2010. I think the title of the show was a misnomer. It should have been called The Ten People Destiny Smiled on the Most in 2010. For example, there is really not that much known about Kate Middleton to be fascinated by. She was determined to become the next queen of England, so Destiny smiled on her. And as special an actress as Sandra Bullock may be, how she handled her husband's infidelity is not so much fascinating as it is how Destiny thrust her in the lime light at a time when one aspect of her life faltered and she was determined to make it better. A lot of people respected her actions in getting past such a public smear.
The number one most fascinating person was General Petraeus, the new general in Afghanistan who replaced General McChrsytal, the general who allowed an interview in Rolling Stone magazine. Destiny smiled on Petraeus or you would never have heard from him again. He had been blackballed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and demoted in position from someone with power and limelight in Iraq to a behind-the-scenes, never-to-be-heard-of-again, menial position in the Pentagon. Then McChrystal made his gaffe, and bingo - Petraeus is suddenly liked for his beliefs by Obama and promoted back into the limelight. Fascinating - I don't think so. Destiny merely created an opening for a man with his particular beliefs and background because his overall personal story was rather routine. Many people go to college, distinguish themselves in the work force, and move up the ladder, whether military or corporate.
Petraeus became "fascinating" because of his ability to hang on to some philosophical beliefs that weren't always popular until the time came that favored his ideas. So, with that definition of "fascinating," I offer the words of a great mathematician and British philosopher, who influenced both mathematics and philosophy at the turn of the 20th century by mentoring Bertrand Russell and William Quine.
"But you can catch yourself entertaining habitually certain ideas and setting others aside; and that, I think, is where our personal destinies are largely decided." Alfred North Whitehead
The number one most fascinating person was General Petraeus, the new general in Afghanistan who replaced General McChrsytal, the general who allowed an interview in Rolling Stone magazine. Destiny smiled on Petraeus or you would never have heard from him again. He had been blackballed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and demoted in position from someone with power and limelight in Iraq to a behind-the-scenes, never-to-be-heard-of-again, menial position in the Pentagon. Then McChrystal made his gaffe, and bingo - Petraeus is suddenly liked for his beliefs by Obama and promoted back into the limelight. Fascinating - I don't think so. Destiny merely created an opening for a man with his particular beliefs and background because his overall personal story was rather routine. Many people go to college, distinguish themselves in the work force, and move up the ladder, whether military or corporate.
Petraeus became "fascinating" because of his ability to hang on to some philosophical beliefs that weren't always popular until the time came that favored his ideas. So, with that definition of "fascinating," I offer the words of a great mathematician and British philosopher, who influenced both mathematics and philosophy at the turn of the 20th century by mentoring Bertrand Russell and William Quine.
"But you can catch yourself entertaining habitually certain ideas and setting others aside; and that, I think, is where our personal destinies are largely decided." Alfred North Whitehead
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