In case you are wondering, no, this is not an autobiography of Cillian Murphy. It is about an understanding, oftentimes ominous and foreboding.
I have recently watched Interstellar. The movie explores a surreal and cryptic phenomenon at the intersection of science and space. In doing so, the movie challenges the widely pessimistic view of Murphy’s Law by integrating the story of a protagonist who strives through the challenges the law creates.
Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It is an ultimate maxim that guides people to be more pessimistic. You can think of this so-called law as an antonym of the placebo effect, which refers to the phenomenon in which one experiences positive results simply because they believe they have received a medical treatment — even when it was, in fact, a sham.
For instance, Murphy’s Law of Love states: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is; the nicer someone is, the further away she or he is from you.” It’s as if bad things always happen in clusters. That’s why the phrase “and at the worst possible, in the worst possible way” is oftentimes added to the law itself; it captures how problems seem to strike at the most unfortunate moments. For students, especially, Murphy’s law is often a bad omen that can lead to a bad test result, a punch life throws at them when they are least ready.
The thing is, however, that it is not a law as a means of unbreakable social norms. Rather, it is a widely held social bias that has become ingrained in human minds. Now, this highlights the most important concept of this law: how strongly our minds can influence outcomes. There have been various moments in my life where I have doubted myself. Whether it was an exam, a project, or a social relationship, that doubt caused things to go disastrously wrong. Yet, from those moments, I gained a valuable insight: Murphy’s Law is not necessarily a bad thing. I found that good things happen as frequently as bad things, and it is just as reasonable to argue that anything that can go right will go right.
During Interstellar, Cooper, the protagonist, tells his daughter Murphy that, “Murphy’s Law doesn’t mean that something bad will happen. What it means is whatever can happen, will happen”. It is merely a name people use to blame the unfortunate events in their lives, allowing them to avoid taking responsibility for their own slip-ups. I find that Murphy’s Law is a constant reminder that life is full of dynamics and ups and downs that make the precious moments even more valuable. So, the next time Murphy lands a punch on you, just tell yourself “Interesting,” with a wry smile, and remind yourself that Murphy holds no personal grudge against you.
