7 October 2023
This blog continues the strand begun with explications of the first four points, from the list below. That list is an analysis of a single paragraph provided by the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the nature of the ends (telos) or ultimate pursuits of Stoicism. You can read that here, if the background is of interest. Today we look at points 5 and 6.
5. The universe, as a well-structured system is providential [i.e., its nature is to provide for us].
It is difficult to oppose the view that the Earth is our native home. It is not as difficult to oppose the view that this is a well-designed structure or system whose purpose is the welfare of humanity, or all living creatures.
The reason the latter is not so difficult, is that seeing the Earth as a designed system is putting the metaphorical cart before the horse. We, human beings, like all other living creatures, to the best of my limited knowledge, evolved out of this soil, water, fire, and air by adapting to the Earth, not emerging fully formed to reap the bounty of a well-run farm. This view emerged as the Darwinian revolution. Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) observations—and the revolutionary inferences he was afraid to publish—overturned the Biblical creation myth we, in the West, had lived with for so long.
If all species of living things, initially taxonomized by Aristotle (384-322, BCE), are known to evolve through gradual adaptation to their environments, we are simply part of that evolutionary taxonomy. And, as noted in the last two weeks, Aristotle saw humans as being differentiated from all other species by rationality. Last week’s blog talked about the positive and negative aspects and products of that rationality.
In simple terms, the Earth was not provided for us as a source of groceries, we grew from very simple biological entities into the most complex products of this adaptively nurturant (and magnificent) environment. The nature of the Earth is the same nature as our own—adapt to change until adaptation is no longer possible.
(Incidentally, as someone fascinated with aesthetics, I have often wondered if the Earth, mountains, forests, and oceans appear so beautiful to us because we are so much of them, a product of the same environment, forces, and timespan.)
If readers are at all uncertain of my reasons for doubting the well-structured nature of our planet and universe, please refer to the preceding two blogs. In summary, the Earth is providential to humanity because humanity is as organic to the planet as water, grass, and soil.
6. There is no room for chance as the well-structured system unfolds with absolute intention making chance impossible.
This point has been disputed in the discussions (last two blogs) of propositions 2-4, from the list above. In direct response to this point my best understanding is that, in fact, chance is why we’re here. If it weren’t for a very particular environmental chemistry, the chain spanning single-celled creature to those creatures with reason would never have unfolded.
While I am haunted by a sense of a G-d-like presence, the rational (i.e., human) side of me has found no empirical evidence of the existence of a deity of any sort. And it saddens me to write and admit that because it feels terribly ungrateful. Yet I am not ungrateful. I love my life, I love parts of almost everything I’ve seen, touched, and experienced, and I am reluctant to see the end coming, but coming it is. In fact, that coming of my own demise is perhaps the perfect example of the fact that not only is chance not impossible, chance is everything i.e., chance drives metaphysics, or those things that exist.
For example, what governs whether I will die by accident, disease, violence, or simple old age? Yes, my genetics, environment, and habits mitigate against some of these, and that is by design. So far, I have chosen to live in the part of Canada I occupy, I have chosen to exercise regularly, and I have chosen to drive my car safely and get regular medical check-ups. That’s the best we can do. By developing and practicing intelligent healthfulness, we are using reason to lessen chance’s opportunities to take us out early. In conclusion, chance isn’t impossible, chance, by its nature, is in unpredictably random control.
Dan Chalykoff is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). He works at CMHA-Hamilton and Healing Pathways Counselling, Oakville, where his focus is clients with addiction, trauma, burnout, and major life changes. He writes these blogs to increase (and share) his own evolving understanding of ideas. Since 2017, he has facilitated two voluntary weekly group meetings of SMART Recovery. Please email him (danchalykoff@hotmail.com) to be added to or removed from the Bcc’d emailing list.
References
Stephens, W. O. (2023, September 1). Stoic Ethics. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/stoiceth/#:~:text=All%20other%20things%20were%20judged,be%20used%20well%20and%20badly.
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