Single Idea 20834

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 4. For Free Will]

Full Idea

Chrysippus gives vice blatant freedom to say not only that it is necessary and according to fate, but even that it occurs according to god's reason and the best nature.

Gist of Idea

Chrysippus allows evil to say it is fated, or even that it is rational and natural

Source

comment on Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]) by Plutarch - 70: Stoic Self-contradictions 1050c

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.104


A Reaction

This is Plutarch's criticism of stoic determinism or fatalism. Zeno replied that the punishment for vice may also be fated. It seems that Chysippus did believe that punishments were too harsh, given that vices are fated [p.109].

Related Ideas

Idea 20833 A swerve in the atoms would be unnatural, like scales settling differently for no reason [Chrysippus, by Plutarch]

Idea 1770 When a slave said 'It was fated that I should steal', Zeno replied 'Yes, and that you should be beaten' [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]

Idea 20836 The Lazy Argument responds to fate with 'why bother?', but the bothering is also fated [Chrysippus, by Cicero]