Single Idea 23315

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / b. Fate]

Full Idea

The doctrine of antiquity nearest to physical determinism was the Stoic doctrine of fate. But their fate is the work of an agent, and is predetermined in part with regard to us, and even seems be contingent on anticipated human choices.

Gist of Idea

The nearest to ancient determinism is Stoic fate, but that is controlled by a sympathetic God

Source

report of Stoic school (fragments/reports [c.200 BCE]) by Michael Frede - A Free Will Intro

Book Reference

Frede,Michael: 'A Free Will' [Univ of California 2011], p.14


A Reaction

[compressed] The gist is that this is the most determinist the ancients ever get (e.g. the swerve of Epicurus), and it is not very determinist at all, in comparison with modern Laplacean physical determinism. Late antiquity determinism was stronger.

Related Idea

Idea 23314 Greeks explained regularity by intellectual design, not by laws [Democritus, by Frede,M]