Two Kinds of Inevitability? What the Universe Forces vs. What We Create
- Charles "Ghost" Coutts
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
(Philosophy) For educational and informational purposes only. It's just something to think about.
I’ve been turning this idea over in my head for quite a while now, and it keeps connecting with a lot of dots across a lot of things I've talked about before, and it got me thinking. What if there are really two different kinds of inevitability in life?
True inevitability is the universe’s non-negotiables, a set of fundamental truths that govern existence and the natural world. These truths are not merely suggestions or possibilities; they are certainties embedded in the fabric of reality. For example, asteroids will inevitably collide with Earth at some point in the distant future. The cosmos is a dynamic and chaotic place, where celestial bodies move through space with immense speed and unpredictability. The gravitational forces at play, combined with the vastness of space, mean that the occasional asteroid or comet will find its way into a trajectory that leads to our planet. This fact is supported by historical evidence of past impacts that have significantly altered the course of life on Earth, such as the event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. In addition to these cosmic events, we must also contend with the geological forces that shape our planet. Volcanoes erupt with a ferocity that reminds us of nature’s raw power. The Earth’s crust is constantly shifting, and the pressure that builds beneath the surface eventually finds a release, resulting in volcanic activity. These eruptions can be catastrophic, unleashing ash, lava, and gases into the atmosphere, affecting climate and ecosystems for years to come. The inevitability of volcanic eruptions serves as a reminder of the Earth’s dynamic nature and the constant change that is part of our existence. Furthermore, on a more personal level, our bodies age, transform, and ultimately succumb to mortality. Aging is a biological process driven by genetic and environmental factors that lead to the gradual decline of physical and mental capabilities. This phenomenon is universal; no one is exempt from the effects of time. The inevitability of death, while often a difficult concept to grapple with, is a fundamental aspect of life. It serves as a poignant reminder of our finite nature and the preciousness of the time we have. These realities—asteroid impacts, volcanic eruptions, the aging process, and death—are not things we have caused or can control. They are intrinsic to the universe and our existence within it. No amount of wishing or hoping can alter these truths; they are constants that we must accept. We can prepare for them, study them, and learn from them, but we cannot avoid them. Understanding and accepting these inevitabilities can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and the world around us, prompting us to embrace the present and cherish each moment in the face of the truly inevitable.
Human inevitability refers to a specific category of outcomes that are fundamentally shaped by our choices and inactions, setting them apart from natural or unavoidable events. These outcomes do not merely result from external circumstances or forces beyond our control; instead, they are direct consequences of our decisions—or the lack of them—that create pathways for certain issues to emerge and intensify over time.
For instance, persistent societal problems such as poverty, inequality, and systemic discrimination do not arise spontaneously. They are perpetuated by a series of choices made—or not made—by individuals, institutions, and governments. When we fail to address these problems through neglect, apathy, or misguided priorities, we inadvertently allow them to become entrenched. Consequently, what could have been a manageable issue can evolve into a seemingly insurmountable crisis, reinforcing the notion of human inevitability.
This concept also extends to preventable health crises. The emergence of pandemics, for example, often stems from human actions such as habitat destruction, poor public health policies, and inadequate responses to early warning signs. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a stark reminder of how our choices—from the way we interact with deadly viruses to our preparedness for health emergencies—can lead to catastrophic outcomes. These health crises may seem inevitable once they gain momentum, but they are fundamentally rooted in the decisions we made (or failed to make) before their escalation.
Environmental tipping points illustrate another critical area where human inevitability manifests. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of natural ecosystems are not simply products of natural cycles; they are significantly influenced by human activities such as geoengineering, deforestation, and industrial pollution. For decades, scientists and environmentalists have warned about the consequences of inaction, yet many of these warnings have gone unheeded. As a result, we find ourselves facing increasingly severe negative effects, leading to extreme weather events and irreversible damage to our planet. Although these outcomes may seem inevitable now, they originated from a series of choices that allowed us to ignore warnings and prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Think we are not ignoring the warning signs? Just look up! Those white lines spreading across the sky everyday? That is your true man-made climate change and we are ignoring it with often catastrophic results. We can't even deny it anymore because they have publicly admitted that they are doing the geoengineering that is causing those lines in the sky. If you are still denying that you might just want to stop and do some serious thinking about it. Just saying.
In conclusion, human inevitability serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact our decisions have on the world around us. It underscores the importance of proactive engagement and responsibility in addressing the challenges we face. By recognizing that many of the crises we encounter stem from our own choices, we can begin to understand the urgency of taking action to alter their trajectory. The path forward requires a collective commitment to making informed, ethical decisions that prioritize the well-being of society and the environment, ultimately preventing the emergence of further crises rooted in human inaction or action.
This distinction isn’t about blame, though. Well, maybe a little bit. However, it’s far more focused on clarity and self-accountability—both for ourselves as individuals and for us as a society. When we stop lumping everything into one big “it is inevitable” bucket, which is a cop-out in my opinion, we free up energy to own what’s actually ours before it hardens into an inevitable course of events.
Consider the historical tyrants who, in this writer's opinion, are the tangible embodiment of evil. The quest for power and control seen in some individuals is ingrained in human nature—a primal urge for dominance that has existed as long as humanity itself. In this sense, the emergence of evil is an unavoidable truth; it persists with each generation because people choose to embrace that nature rather than resist it. Human nature will always produce those who desire power and control. However, the aspect where evil actually triumphs and gains widespread power? That’s purely a human inevitability. Look at Mao, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, and Pol Pot. Warnings were sounded throughout—by neighbors, journalists, insiders—just as they are today, cautioning that these paths lead directly to mass suffering and death. And they did, they will again: over 100 million lives lost to collectivism and tyranny, a number that continues to rise in places where these patterns repeat. It wasn’t physics or fate that allowed it; it was millions of individual choices (or lack thereof) that accumulated: “It won’t be that bad,” “Better not rock the boat,” “Someone else will handle it,” or simply ignoring the warnings. Tolerance turned/is once again turning into appeasement. We allowed/are allowing evil to gain power. Had enough people listened, spoken up, and refused to relinquish control, none of those horrific memories would exist today. Those events were entirely preventable. We made them inevitable by allowing them to succeed. More specifically, by not actively preventing them from occurring in the first place, which we could have done. We know this because eventually, we did ended it, didn’t we? But at what cost, when all of it could have been avoided if people had just listened? The worst part is that we keep repeating this cycle, over and over again, just as we are doing right now, all over again. The downfall is not inevitable unless we permit it to occur. And that is what makes all of the horrors and atrocities inevitable. Evil will run its predictable course if not contained, and we know full well what that course looks like, don't we?
As I am quite fond of saying, "History does not repeat itself; ignorant, apathetic people repeat history." That is a cycle we can break any time we choose to. All we must do is shut up and listen to people who know more than we do. Such a simple thing, and yet we as a species are ridiculously allergic to the concept. That's pride and its cousins, arrogance and narcissism. What is that old saying, "Pride comes before the fall!" Pride is also considered to be the primary of the seven deadly sins because it is the catalyst for all of the others.
The same pattern shows up in modern parallels. Human nature still pushes some leaders toward dominance and control. Warnings still get raised—about eroding institutions, scapegoating groups, manipulating information, or concentrating power. Yet when societies respond with apathy, denial, or “it can’t happen here,” those impulses can and will harden into something much bigger. Something far more dangerous.
For instance, continuing with collectivism as our example, Venezuela’s slide under Hugo Chávez and then Nicolás Maduro: Early critics warned that rewriting rules, seizing control of courts and media, and promising utopian fixes while dismantling checks would lead to economic collapse, mass emigration, and authoritarian lock-in. Many dismissed it as overblown. Today, the country that was once one of Latin America’s wealthiest sits in ruins—hyperinflation, shortages, and a regime clinging to power through repression. The impulse to centralize power was predictable human nature. The success in doing so? Fueled by enough people going along or looking away until it was too late. Same pattern, different names and faces.
Or consider cases where leaders gradually reshape rules—packing institutions, controlling narratives, or framing opponents as existential threats—while still wearing the costume of democracy. Sound familiar? As an example: "Trump is an existential threat to our democracy!" How many times have you heard that since the man first ran for office? They even extend that demonization to anyone who supports him. Observers point to patterns in places like Russia under Putin or Hungary under Orbán: incremental moves that weaken opposition, courts, and free press. Alarms go off about democratic backsliding, but when enough citizens prioritize short-term stability, tribal loyalty, or the promise of strong leadership over defending guardrails, the shift can start to become “inevitable.” The underlying human drive for power? Old as time. The degree to which it consolidates without real resistance? That’s on collective choices. Our choices.
Here’s the core truth that hits hardest as I see it: the path toward tyranny (evil) may feel inevitable because human nature keeps offering it up, but we do not have to walk it. Our decision—individually and collectively—to walk that path (or refuse to) is what makes the destination inevitable. If we refuse, the horrible outcome simply never manifests into reality. The consequences of allowing evil to flourish—death, suffering, collapse—become true inevitability once the path is taken, because the pattern always plays out the same way, no matter who is leading the charge. But that final step only happens because we allowed it. The rise of evil is true inevitability. Its success is not.
I largely base this theory on the teachings of Stoicism, where I find its strongest and most practical support. The dichotomy of control from Epictetus directly reflects the division I observe and describe: some things are genuinely “not up to us” (such as true inevitabilities like death, natural disasters, or the persistent human drive for power and evil), while many other outcomes begin as “up to us” (including our judgments, choices, efforts, and refusals). The Stoics accepted the first category with calm realism but strongly took ownership of the second—refusing to relinquish their inner freedom or enable injustice through fear, flattery, or inaction. They lived this under actual tyranny, demonstrating that while the path to evil may continually present itself, we are not obliged to follow it. We choose to, and the more of us who make that choice, the more power and control evil accumulates over us. The more of us who resist, the more power and control WE get over evil.
The ancient Stoics weren’t promoting passive acceptance. They offered concrete strategies: protect your “inner citadel” (keep your character and clear thinking intact), speak truth with courage, don’t cooperate with or normalize evil, and prepare mentally so you’re not caught off guard. That’s exactly the self-accountability this theory calls for—personally and collectively.
This pairs really well with the psychological side I explored in my earlier piece, Mastering Your Locus of Control: Empower Yourself Through a Higher Consciousness. (I know, the title could use some work.) There we saw how an internal locus of control (believing your actions shape outcomes) pushes back on human-made problems, while an external locus (“it’s all fate”) can turn into a self-fulfilling loop where we stop trying. The tyrants' example—and its modern echoes—shows exactly that: enough people treating creeping control as “inevitable” hands over the power that makes it so.
From a spiritual perspective, this idea resonates with the Serenity Prayer, which partially states: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." For me, the final line is crucial. If we cannot distinguish between the two, it leads to ignorance, and if ignorance is the issue, then knowledge is the remedy. However, gaining knowledge requires humility, as we must eventually acknowledge our mistakes to correct our false conclusions. This is a challenge for many, as they are often unwilling to admit their errors, even when the evidence clearly indicates otherwise. This circles back to issues of pride, arrogance, and narcissism.
The key point is that, aside from true inevitabilities, such as that we all die in the end, we can change all of it. First, individually and then collectively, because if we strip away all of the noise, no human beings, no human created problems, meaning barring those true inevitabilities, every single problem we human beings endure as a species is self-inflicted. Let that sink in!
Most of us already sense this on a small scale. You skip healthy habits for months, and suddenly, “gaining weight is inevitable.” A conflict drags on because no one takes the first step, and now “we just can’t communicate.” Scale it up, and you get the big stuff we call fate.
So here’s the quiet question we should all ask ourselves: Next time something feels inevitable—whether in politics, health, relationships, or society—is it the asteroid kind… or the kind we quietly helped create through what we do or don’t do? The path will always be there because of human nature; that is inevitable, but we must choose to walk it. Once we make that choice, every horror we know from history becomes inevitable as well. We make it that way.
That single filter has profoundly changed how I approach my daily life and the world around me. It fosters real accountability without feeling burdensome. How about you? Does this resonate with anything happening in your life right now, whether it's the small daily choices or larger societal issues you've observed? Have you noticed modern parallels where warnings were/are ignored? If this idea sparks something for you, consider revisiting the concept of locus of control or spending some time with Epictetus’ *Enchiridion*. You might find that you—and we, as a united front—hold more power than we realized.
Connective Tissue
Further Reading & Research If this piece leaves you wanting to explore more, here’s a short, accessible list grouped by theme. Each one ties directly back to the ideas of true vs. human inevitability, self-accountability, and refusing to walk the path.
On Stoicism and the Dichotomy of Control
Enchiridion (The Handbook) by Epictetus – The foundational text on what is truly “up to us” versus what is not. Short, direct, and life-changing.
Discourses by Epictetus – Deeper dives into living with courage under pressure.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Practical reflections from a Roman emperor on accepting what you can’t control.
A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine – A clear modern introduction to Stoic practices and how they apply today.
Psychology & Personal Agency
Mastering Your Locus of Control: Empower Yourself Through a Higher Consciousness by Charles (my own earlier piece) – Explores how your mindset about control shapes what you actually change.
Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman – Breaks down learned helplessness and shows how we can break free from the “it’s inevitable” trap.
Philosophy on Reality vs. Human Choices
“The Metaphysical Versus the Man-Made” by Ayn Rand – A sharp essay on the difference between what reality forces on us and what we create through our own actions.
History, Tyranny & Political Philosophy
How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt – Examines modern democratic backsliding with clear parallels to the examples in this piece.
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt – Classic analysis of how tyranny takes root through ordinary people’s choices.
The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek – Explores how well-intentioned steps can lead to centralized power if we don’t stay alert.
Bonus Big-Picture Read
The Precipice by Toby Ord – Distinguishes natural (true) existential risks from the human-made ones we can still steer away from.
These aren’t required reading—just solid starting points that go deeper into the same questions. Pick one that feels interesting and see where it takes you. Then keep going!
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