When Oidipous proclaims that he would “never wish to turn out otherwise,” he is not accepting the circumstances of his conception, about which he is still ignorant, but affirming his preference for a universe governed by chance; by which he understands one in which the gods have no role in relation to mortals. The audience, however, must weigh this preference and find it seriously out of step with the events observable in this play. Errors stemming from Oidipous’s own predilections have compelled Apollo to intervene and see to it that Oidipous learn the full story of his birth. The result: contrary to Oidipous’s expectation, he will soon wish that he had turned out “otherwise.” Athens can anticipate that its own commitment to hazard its wellbeing entirely on its own skills will also soon experience a painful correction. [Mpea] [P] [Mw]