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Mark R Rank

Herbert S Hadley Professor of Social Welfare, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri

Mark R Rank is Herbert S Hadley Professor of Social Welfare at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri. His most recent book is The Random Factor: How Chance and Luck Profoundly Shape Our Lives and the World around Us (2024).

Written by Mark R Rank

Painting depicts a casino scene with people gathered around a green roulette table. The players are engaged, focused on the game. The roulette wheel is visible on the right side, and a green lamp hangs above. The scene is vibrant, with expressive brushstrokes and vivid colours.

Knowledge and reason

idea

What we gain by recognising the role of chance in life

Appreciating the world is random can foster perseverance, gratitude for our own luck and empathy for the plight of others

by Mark R Rank