Single Idea 23337

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 2. Sources of Free Will]

Full Idea

The Stoics said that everything happens according to a divine providential plan, so they had to explain how this was compatible with human choices. They tried to do this with their doctrine of freedom and a free will.

Gist of Idea

The Stoics needed free will, to allow human choices in a divinely providential cosmos

Source

Michael Frede (A Free Will [1997], 10)

Book Reference

Frede,Michael: 'A Free Will' [Univ of California 2011], p.176


A Reaction

Epictetus made our ability to choose central to moral life, so he particularly needed (and thus created, it seems) this doctrine.

Related Idea

Idea 23328 The essences of good and evil are in dispositions to choose [Epictetus]