Single Idea 24077

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 2. Nature of Necessity]

Full Idea

Necessity is supposed to be the cause of something coming to be: in truth it is often only an effect of what has come to be.

Gist of Idea

Necessity is thought to require an event, but is only an after-effect of the event

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882], §205)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Joyful Science, and 1881-82 fragments (v 6)', ed/tr. Del Caro,Adrian [Stanford 2023], p.151


A Reaction

This sounds like an account of the traditional idea of destiny - which sees inevitability in some major event, which was previously unpredictable.