The Butterfly Effect

"Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?" ~ Edward Lorenz

This question posed by famed mathematician, meteorologist, and father of the chaos theory, Edward Lorenz, is the main concept behind what was later coined the "Butterfly Effect".

The Butterfly Effect is most commonly associated with the weather system, indicating that weather patterns do not always change as predicted, that they are dependant on initial conditions. The question Lorenz poses introduces the idea that the small flap of a butterflies wings could be the initial condition that ultimately leads to the chain of events that change or prevent a major weather pattern. As the pioneer of the chaos theory, Lorenz is also showing us that it is impossible to determine what the initial cause of any event really is, that it could be the flap of a butterflies wings in Brazil, but it could also be the flap of a gulls wings in Boston.

As members of society and followers of popular culture, we have taken this theory and ran with it. As Peter Dizikes points out in his article The meaning of the butterfly...Why pop culture loves the 'butterfly effect,' and gets it totally wrong, "the butterfly effect has become a metaphor for the existence of seemingly insignificant moments that alter history and shape destinies". That is to say, something as insignificant as helping out at a soup kitchen could later make a significant difference. Dizikes asserts that it is idealistic of society to think such a thing. I agree, however, isn't it because the ultimate cause of such major events is inscrutable to us that we romanticize that we could be the cause? Why couldn't we be the butterfly? Why couldn't the action we take today make a difference in the future?

It can make a difference. One thing that I have learned during this election year is to not give in to apathy. Don't like the way things are? Do something about it! Be the butterfly, the initial condition to bring about change. Because, "If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it."