The concept of faith and choices has been around for ages as people always wish to have explanations for what happens to them and their surroundings. In the story of Cupid and Psyche it seems as though fate is already drawn out for Psyche, even though if she were in charge of her actions, the choice would clearly point her in the opposite direction of the events that happened. Then, in Epicurus’s Letter to Menoeceus choices are regarded highly in the turn of events to occur. Choices and fate are actually something made up by humans to feel more comfortable about the events of life and their outcomes. People are raised to know the difference between right and wrong, but their actions are already pre-determined from before they are born. Of
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For religion is one way humans cope with the concept of fate and destiny, which is fundamentally the concept that certain outcomes are predetermined, as talked about in Letters to Menoeceus “For, indeed, it were better to follow the myths about the gods than to become a slave to the destiny of the natural philosopher: for the former suggests a hope of placating the gods by worship, whereas the latter involves a necessity which knows no placation.” (Epicurus, 31). From this text it can be gathered that religion is more comfortable an explanation to humans, while the philosophical, but scientific alternative is uneasy to think about and is therefore avoided. Humans being creatures of amenity, they do not tend to lean towards explanations which they do not fully understand or that favors concepts that do not give control to the self. In stories like Cupid and Psyche fate, which is linked to religion, is used to explain the concepts of this theory. “Psyche was not naturally either very strong or very brave, but the cruel power of fate made a virago of her” (Apuleius, 117). Yes, it is true that the outcome and all the actions would be the same no matter what, but this does not need to be determined by the gods. It is more accurate to say that events are predisposed because all current parts of the universe exist and will lead to those which do not yet, but inevitably will. Works Cited
The Panchatantra. Translated by Arthur W. Ryder, University of Chicago Press, 1925. Epicurus. “Epicurus to Menoeceus.” The Stoic and Epicurean Philosophers: The Complete Extant Writings of Epicurus, Epictetus, Lucretius, Marcus Aurelius. Edited by Whitney J. Oates and translated by Cyril Bailey, Random House, 1940, 30-33.
Apuleius. The Transformations of Lucius, Otherwise Known as The Golden Ass. Translated by Robert Graves, Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
For religion is one way humans cope with the concept of fate and destiny, which is fundamentally the concept that certain outcomes are predetermined, as talked about in Letters to Menoeceus “For, indeed, it were better to follow the myths about the gods than to become a slave to the destiny of the natural philosopher: for the former suggests a hope of placating the gods by worship, whereas the latter involves a necessity which knows no placation.” (Epicurus, 31). From this text it can be gathered that religion is more comfortable an explanation to humans, while the philosophical, but scientific alternative is uneasy to think about and is therefore avoided. Humans being creatures of amenity, they do not tend to lean towards explanations which they do not fully understand or that favors concepts that do not give control to the self. In stories like Cupid and Psyche fate, which is linked to religion, is used to explain the concepts of this theory. “Psyche was not naturally either very strong or very brave, but the cruel power of fate made a virago of her” (Apuleius, 117). Yes, it is true that the outcome and all the actions would be the same no matter what, but this does not need to be determined by the gods. It is more accurate to say that events are predisposed because all current parts of the universe exist and will lead to those which do not yet, but inevitably will. Works Cited
The Panchatantra. Translated by Arthur W. Ryder, University of Chicago Press, 1925. Epicurus. “Epicurus to Menoeceus.” The Stoic and Epicurean Philosophers: The Complete Extant Writings of Epicurus, Epictetus, Lucretius, Marcus Aurelius. Edited by Whitney J. Oates and translated by Cyril Bailey, Random House, 1940, 30-33.
Apuleius. The Transformations of Lucius, Otherwise Known as The Golden Ass. Translated by Robert Graves, Farrar, Straus and Giroux,