stoics seminar

Question 1

Why might one classify stoic physics as a continuum theory?

Answer 1

Because they think the universe is unitary and continuous, with no gapes in between.

Question 2

What is the active principle, according to the stoics?

Answer 2

The thing responsible for all form, quality, individuation, differentiation, cohesion and change in the world, it is eternal, self moved, and a power.

Question 3

What is the passive principle, according to the stoics?

Answer 3

Matter. It is amorphous and unqualified, possesses neither power of cohesion nor power of movement.

Question 4

What are some names for the active principle?

Answer 4

God, reason of the world, fate,

Question 5

In what ways to modern theories of causal determinism differ from stoic determinism?

Answer 5

They have different conceptions of causation. For the stoics cause and effect are two distinct ontological categories. A cause cannot be an effect, an effect can never be a cause.

Question 6

How does cause and effect work in stoic philosophy?

Give an example.

Answer 6

All causes are bodies that are causes of something incorporeal occurring to another corporeal body.

For instance, a scalpel is the cause of ‘being cut’ to the flesh.

Question 7

What did the stoics argue for compatibilism between?

Answer 7

(1) human responsibility
(2) physical & teleological determinism