back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 21391

[from 'fragments/reports' by Carneades, in 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism ]

Full Idea

Now something is in our power; but if everything happens as a result of destiny all things happen as a result of antecedent causes; therefore what happens does not happen as a result of destiny.

Gist of Idea

Some actions are within our power; determinism needs prior causes for everything - so it is false

Source

report of Carneades (fragments/reports [c.174 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - On Fate ('De fato') 14.31

Book Reference

Long,A.A.: 'Hellenistic Philosophy' [Duckworth 1986], p.103


A Reaction

This invites the question of whether some things really are 'in our power'. Carneades (as expressed by Cicero) takes that for granted. Our 'power' may be antecedent causes in disguise.