FATALISM. - A philosophical or theological doctrine that holds every event, whether natural or human, to be the ineluctable effect of a superior and necessary connection of causes. Various forms of f. are distinguished, according to the nature attributed to the first Cause from which the movement of the machine of the universe takes its beginning. Physical and cosmological f. is that of the Presocratics and substantially also that of the Stoics; theological f. is that of the Neoplatonists; astral f., the best known and coming from the East (Chaldeans), is when the outcome of human affairs is attributed to the celestial bodies.

In theology, those doctrines that do not leave a sufficient part to human freedom in the mysteries of Predestination (v.) and Grace (v.) come close to f. (Lutheranism, Calvinism, Quietism, etc.). See FATE.

Bibliography

BIBL.: D. Amand, Fatalisme et liberté dans l'antiquité grecque. Louvain-Paris 1944. On the division of the various forms of f., see the Preface by Leibniz to the Théodicée, ed. P. Janet (Oeuvres philosophiques, 2), Paris 1900, p. 1 ff.

Cornelio Fabro

F.A.T.E.: v. FEDERAZIONE ASSOCIAZIONI TEATRO EDUCATIVO.

@incollection{ec5_fatalismo, author = {Fabro, Cornelio}, title = {Fatalismo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {1055}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/fatalismo} }

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