ABSTRACT
The supreme problems of philosophy, in Roman Stoicism relation to gods and men, the fellow-citizens of this universe, centre in question of free will. To the problem of meaning and government of the universe three answers were current in the epoch with which we deal: Either all things take place by fate; or the world is ruled by a divine providence; or else fortune is supreme. The Stoics have merit of not only recognising fully these three powers, but also of using the terms with relative consistency. The first Stoic interpretation of the universe is that of Determinism; it reiterates and drives home the principle that is here our starting-point, 'the universe is'. The work and functions of Providence are open to our view, for it has an aim and pathway of its own. Its first aim is to create a universe capable of enduring; next, it makes that universe complete; thirdly, it endows it with every beauty and excellence.
