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Single Idea 20836

[from 'fragments/reports' by Chrysippus, in 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / b. Fate ]

Full Idea

Chrysippus responded to the Lazy Argument (that the outcome of an illness is fated, so there is no point in calling the doctor) by saying 'calling the doctor is fated just as much as recovering', which he calls 'co-fated'.

Gist of Idea

The Lazy Argument responds to fate with 'why bother?', but the bothering is also fated

Source

report of Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - On Fate ('De fato') 28-30

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.106


A Reaction

From a pragmatic point of view, this idea also nullifies fatalism, since you can plausibly fight against your fate to your last breath. No evidence could ever be offered in support of fatalism, not even the most unlikely events.