would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything?

[donq]

Recently, I got a warning that something bad was going to happen. And it did happen. So, I wonder, if I didn't know it, would it still happen? I mean, somehow knowing it in advance worried me more or less. And if I didn't believe that warning at all, would it still happen?
Hmm....

This scene from The Matrix (1999) always impressed me. And I have been into getting kind of foreknowledge or precognition for almost 40 years.

[The Matrix Oracle Scene]

It's only one minute long but in case you don't have enough time to watch it, below is its dialogue:

"I'd ask you to sit down...but you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase."
"What vase?"
(Neo looked around, dropped the vase and broke it)
"That vase."
"I'm sorry."
"I said, don't worry about it. I'll get one of my kids to fix it.
"How did you know?"
"What's really going to bake your noodle later on is...would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything?

[gruntal]

I can only guess in an alternate time line the warning wouldn't have been necessary and there fore would not have been said.

[donq]

I wonder if fate (pre) determined? Whether the oracle said anything or not, Neo will still break the vase anyway?

I believe, in the final analysis (and lots and lots of making my personal mistakes), there's no such thing as predetermined fate. Yes, it always had a critical point that thing might go from worse to worst, and that was just because somehow I didn't deal with it carefully. Very carefully.

For example, in the case of Neo, whether the oracle said anything or not, there was a critical point that he would break the vase. (yes, it was always fascinated how the reliable spiritual warnings knew this in advance). Still, he might or might not break it. It was completely up to him and him alone.

If he did believe in the warning and didn't make any move at that very critical point, he might not break the vase, and the oracle would be completely wrong. Or even he didn't believe in the warning, but he didn't worsen that critical point, he still would not break the vase. That's all.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean we have to believe in any warning/omen/sign until we cannot do anything by ourselves. And fake/unreliable warnings are worse than none. Anyway, if a weather reporter says, it's going to rain, just bring an umbrella with you. If there's no rain, it's still okay, isn't it? It's a lot better than you have no umbrella when it really rains you you do need it, right?