One important branch of deterministic philosophy is Stoicism. The Stoics were pantheists, meaning they believe all aspects of nature and the universe are God. From this line of thinking, they also believe everything interacts together in a way that sets events into motion from which it follows that the Stoics believe everything is determined.
Stoic philosophy can be very confusing to studiers because it holds a heavy contradiction. As previously stated, they believe that everything is determined. However, the Stoics do believe that certain things are up to us in a very specific way.
Stoic philosopher Aulus Gellius explains the concept of “up to us” in depth. He states “...although, he said, it is true that by fate all things are forced and linked by a necessary and dominant reason, …the character of our mind is subject to fate in a manner corresponding to their nature and quality. For if our minds were originally formed by nature n a sound and useful manner, then they pass on all …show more content…
8, Slide 14). From this it follows that he doesn’t believe in a forking path since God knows everything we will do. This creates an issue because it is hard to imagine having free will in a world where everything is predetermined. He solves the problem of divine foreknowledge through the way in which he defines free will. Augustine defines free will as “a will that is in accord with itself” (Bayer, Lect. 8, Slide 14). Thus, as in the example of the pizza, by wanting to do something and carrying out that action, a person is acting within their will. This does not contradict God’s omniscience because as long as you are doing what you want to do, your evil, neutral, and benevolent actions are solely your own. Thus Augustine’s definition of free will and explanation of how divine foreknowledge and free will can coexist explains how evil can exist in the world and not be the fault of
Stoic philosophy can be very confusing to studiers because it holds a heavy contradiction. As previously stated, they believe that everything is determined. However, the Stoics do believe that certain things are up to us in a very specific way.
Stoic philosopher Aulus Gellius explains the concept of “up to us” in depth. He states “...although, he said, it is true that by fate all things are forced and linked by a necessary and dominant reason, …the character of our mind is subject to fate in a manner corresponding to their nature and quality. For if our minds were originally formed by nature n a sound and useful manner, then they pass on all …show more content…
8, Slide 14). From this it follows that he doesn’t believe in a forking path since God knows everything we will do. This creates an issue because it is hard to imagine having free will in a world where everything is predetermined. He solves the problem of divine foreknowledge through the way in which he defines free will. Augustine defines free will as “a will that is in accord with itself” (Bayer, Lect. 8, Slide 14). Thus, as in the example of the pizza, by wanting to do something and carrying out that action, a person is acting within their will. This does not contradict God’s omniscience because as long as you are doing what you want to do, your evil, neutral, and benevolent actions are solely your own. Thus Augustine’s definition of free will and explanation of how divine foreknowledge and free will can coexist explains how evil can exist in the world and not be the fault of