Aristotle and the Stoics on Tomorrow's Sea Battle: the influence of 'time' in the debate on future contingents

Keywords
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Issue Date
2018-05-29
Language
en
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
How we view time is important in the debate on future contingents. However, how exactly does the concept of time that one uses influence the arguments against fatalism in this debate? In this paper, the answers of Aristotle and of the Stoics against fatalism are discussed and compared. Three solutions will be discussed: rejecting the Principle of Bivalence for future propositions, rejecting the relation between truth and necessity, and rejecting the link between necessity and fatalism. Aristotle states a difference between past and future that the Stoics do not and cannot use. This is due to the linear timeline that Aristotle uses. The Stoics, with their notion of a cyclical time, need to find different solutions for fatalism.
Description
Citation
Faculty
Faculteit der Filosofie, Theologie en Religiewetenschappen
Specialisation