On Fate

work by Alexander of Aphrodisias

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July 1, 2026

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Alexander of Aphrodisias, a philosopher from the late 2nd century, wrote On Fate. In this work, he defended free will against the Stoic concept of necessity, which proposed that human actions are predetermined. His philosophical stance, particularly his interpretation of Aristotle's views on the soul and intellect, led to the development of the Alexandrist school of thought during the Renaissance. The Alexandrists, following Alexander's interpretation, argued that Aristotle believed the individual intellect was mortal and ceased to exist after death.12

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Alexander Of Aphrodisias
…most important of these are On Fate, in which he defends free will against the Stoic doctrine of necessity, or predetermined human action; and On the Soul, in which he draws upon Aristotle’s doctrine of the soul and the intellect. According to Alexander, the human thought process, which he calls…
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…most important of these are On Fate, in which he defends free will against the Stoic doctrine of necessity, or predetermined human action; and On the Soul, in which he draws upon Aristotle’s doctrine of the soul and the intellect. According to Alexander, the human thought process, which he calls…
Read More