The Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics - College of Stoic Philosophers

L'HAP.
VII.
B. Government
of the
ivorld.
{\) Nature
ofDestiny,
(a) Destiny
as
Pro^vi-
THE STOICS.
One point established by the generation and de-
struction of the world— the uncertainty of all particular
things, and the unconditional dependence of
everything on a universal law and the course of the
universe— is a leading one in the Stoic enquiries
into nature. All things in nature come about by
virtue of a natural and unchangeable connection
of cause and effect, as the nature of the universe
and the general law require. This absolute neces-
sity, regulating all Being and Becoming,
is ex-
pressed in the conception of Fate or Destiny (7;
sifiap/uLSPT}).^ Viewed from the point of view of
natural science, Destiny is only another name for
primary Being, for the all-pervading, all-producing
Breath, for the artistic fire which is the soul of the
world.'^ But again the activity of this Being being
always rational and according to law, Destiny may
also be described as the Reason of the World, as
universal Law,
'
Diog. vii. 1 lit : xaff tlfiapfie-
vr)v Se