Note 32 — Chapter VI · THE STUDY OF NATURE. FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS.

(2) Arguments in favour of Providence. All parts of the Stoic system lead so unmistakeably to the conclusion, not only that the world as a whole is governed by Providence, but that every part of it is subject to the same unchangeable laws, that no definite arguments would appear necessary to establish this point. Nevertheless, the Stoics lost no opportunity of meeting objections to their views (a) Argument from the general convictions of mankind. in the fullest manner.32 In the true spirit of a Stoic, Chrysippus appealed to the general conviction of mankind, as expressed in the names used to denote fate and destiny,33 and to the language of poetry.34 (b) Argument from the perfection of God. Nor was it difficult to show35 that a divine government of the world followed of necessity from the Stoic conception of the perfection of God. Besides, in proving the existence of a God by the argument drawn from the adaptation of means to ends, a providential government of the world was at the same (c) Argument from the theory of necessity. time proved.36 Chrysippus also thought to defend his theory of necessity in the same strictly logical manner. For must not every judgment be either true or false?37 And does not this apply to judgments which refer to future events, as well as to others? Judgments, however, referring to the future can only be true when what they affirm must come to pass of necessity; they can only be false when what they affirm is impossible; and, accordingly, everything that takes place must follow of necessity from the causes which produce it.38