When it comes to philosophy, few names are as well-known as Aristotle. His ideas have influenced countless thinkers throughout history, and his contributions to the field are still studied and debated today.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding Aristotle’s philosophy is whether or not he was a determinist. Determinism is the idea that all events, including human actions, are ultimately determined by pre-existing causes.
In this article, we’ll explore the evidence for and against Aristotle’s commitment to determinism, and try to answer the question: was Aristotle a determinist?
Was Aristotle A Determinist
Aristotle is often considered the “father of determinism” due to his discovery of all three versions of determinism: logical, physical, and ethical determinism. However, the question remains whether or not Aristotle was actually a determinist.
Some argue that Aristotle’s theory of chance and his resistance to systemic/metaphysical conceptions of determinism suggest that he was not a strict determinist. Additionally, the Peripatetic philosopher Alexander of Aphrodisias defended a view of moral responsibility that differed from strict determinism and believed that Aristotle was not a strict determinist like the Stoics.
However, others argue that Aristotle’s discovery and detailed work on the three different versions of determinism suggest that he was indeed a determinist. Despite this, Aristotle did not regard determinism as a reason for denying the existence of contingent events in the world or for denying human responsibility for their own actions.
Defining Determinism And Aristotle’s Philosophy
Determinism is a philosophical position that asserts that every event is determined by natural laws and that nothing can happen without an unbroken chain of causes that can be traced all the way back to the beginning of time and space. Aristotle’s philosophy on determinism is complex, as he discovered and detailed all three versions of determinism: logical, physical, and ethical determinism.
Logical determinism is the view that everything that happens is logically necessary, while physical determinism asserts that everything that happens is causally determined by preceding events. Finally, ethical determinism argues that human actions are determined by character and previous decisions.
Aristotle’s discovery of these different versions of determinism suggests that he was indeed a determinist. However, Aristotle did not regard determinism as a reason for denying the existence of contingent events in the world or for denying human responsibility for their own actions.
In fact, Aristotle believed in the existence of chance, which suggests a resistance to systemic/metaphysical conceptions of determinism. Additionally, the Peripatetic philosopher Alexander of Aphrodisias defended a view of moral responsibility that differed from strict determinism and believed that Aristotle was not a strict determinist like the Stoics.
Evidence Against Aristotle’s Determinism
While Aristotle did discover and work out in detail the three different versions of determinism, there is evidence to suggest that he was not a strict determinist. Aristotle’s theory of chance, for example, suggests that there are events in the world that are not predetermined or caused by some pre-existing condition. This idea is in direct contrast to strict determinism, which holds that all events are predetermined and caused by prior conditions.
Furthermore, the Peripatetic philosopher Alexander of Aphrodisias defended a view of moral responsibility that differed from strict determinism. Alexander believed that some events do not have pre-determined causes and that man is responsible for self-caused decisions. While Alexander believed that Aristotle was not a strict determinist like the Stoics, he did not deny the existence of determinism altogether.
Despite Aristotle’s discovery of the different versions of determinism, he did not regard them as reasons for denying the existence of contingent events in the world or for denying human responsibility for their own actions. In fact, Aristotle’s ethical works address questions concerning human actions and whether they are determined by their character. This suggests that Aristotle believed in a form of determinism that allowed for human agency and responsibility.
