Fate and Providence in Ancient Greek Philosophy as a Way of Life and a Religious Quest

Dear Colleagues,

Fate and providence emerged as major themes of philosophical reflection in the Hellenistic period, a time marked by a pronounced emphasis on theological questions. During this same era, philosophy was understood not primarily as a body of knowledge but as a way of life in which rational inquiry played a central role. The philosopher adopts a distinctive mode of living, seeking to conduct his choices and emotions ever more authentically as a human being. To this end, he undertakes a rational examination of existence and embodies a conduct appropriate to such a disposition of mind. Within this existential framework that philosophy assumes, the relationship with the divine acquires particular significance. The divine is provident, and its activity bears upon the life of the philosopher; as a result, the integration of philosophy into the governance of one’s whole life acquires explicitly religious overtones. Even among philosophers who deny divine providence (though not the existence of the divine)—such as the Epicureans—this denial follows from having adopted a specific religious posture toward the gods. In this broad sense, different philosophical traditions maintain that human beings must shape their conduct with divine providence and fate in view, though the relation between the two is conceived in different ways across the schools.

This conception of philosophy as a way of life is not entirely novel in the Hellenistic period but traces its origins to Socrates. Contemporary scholarship has even described him as a religious reformer, for whom divine providence plays a fundamental role in piety. In line with their diverse understandings of the divine, later philosophers likewise reflect on providence and fate—concepts that are at once philosophical and religious. Moreover, although this outlook has its roots in the classical and Hellenistic Greek world, it has noteworthy ramifications throughout late antiquity, including among Latin-speaking authors and Christian thinkers. Patristic thought can be approached as part of the broader landscape of Greek philosophy and religion, and indeed it engages these notions directly, paying close attention to the contributions of several philosophers.

In sum, this Special Issue seeks to gather studies that take fate and providence as their central point of reference within the context of Greek philosophy conceived as a way of life and a religious quest. We welcome contributions that address the origins of these themes in the classical period as well as their developments in Hellenistic and Roman philosophy. While the primary focus lies on Greek literature, including patristic texts, the reception of these ideas among Latin and even medieval or modern authors offers a complementary perspective that can further illuminate the topic.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. David Torrijos-Castrillejo
Dr. Miguel Martí
Guest Editors

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• fate
• providence
• divine foreknowledge
• determinism
• free will
• divination
• fortune
• causality
• contingent future
• necessity
• ethics
• divinity
• worship