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The Pattern: The App That Will Lead You to Question Whether You Are Truly in Control of Your Own Life
I have never been a big believer in astrology myself, but this single app based in astrology will have you questioning the possibility of our lives being predetermined, at least to some extent.
Check out the video version of this post:
The iOS app ominously titled The Pattern received a boost in popularity on the media recently when actor Channing Tatum released a video of his reaction to the app’s content — AKA his “Pattern”; (check out his viral Instagram video if you haven’t already).
A good friend of mine first introduced me to the mysterious app a couple of months ago, and the first time I used it — okay, more like the first five times I used it — I had the exact same reaction as Tatum. No joke.
I have never been a big believer in astrology, but this single app brought with it the possibility of our lives being predetermined, at least to some extent. And not going to lie, it freaked me the heck out.
What is determinism?
The term deterministic thinking refers to the belief or worldview that everything in life is predetermined; we have no free will over our actions and the choices we make. It is one side of the age-old argument between free will and determinism. (Check out this video by the School of Life on free will vs determinism for a brief history and explanation).
Popular works such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet are examples of how the debate of free will vs. determinism plays out in works of fiction and fantasy. The play explores the premise of the characters’ choices being predetermined and futile to the outcome of their lives.
