Full Idea
Does foreknowledge of the future cause the necessity of events, or necessity cause the foreknowledge?
Gist of Idea
Does foreknowledge cause necessity, or necessity cause foreknowledge?
Source
Boethius (The Consolations of Philosophy [c.520], V.III)
Book Reference
Boethius: 'The Consolations of Philosophy', ed/tr. Watts,V.E. [Penguin 1969], p.151
A Reaction
An intriguing question, though not one that bothers me. I don't understand how foreknowledge causes necessity, unless God's vision of the future is a kind of 'freezing ray'. Even the gods must bow to necessity (Idea 3016).
Related Idea
Idea 3016 Even the gods cannot strive against necessity [Pittacus, by Diog. Laertius]