Aristotle's Concept of Chance and its Importance for Human Responsibility

In this chapter I aim to show the nature and importance of the concept of chance in Aristotle. Aristotle's understanding of chance as an accidental cause makes it possible for us to obtain a better understanding of life. The aim of life, says Aristotle, fundamentally the search for the goodness and eternity of God. We search for the goodness of God by seeking our full development in life, and we search for God's eternity by attempting to survive and to stay in our best condition for as long as possible. Human beings are continually taking decisions in order to fulfil a series of goals in life that are subordinate to these two final aims. On the way to achieving each of these goals a chance event may occur because we notice an accidental occurrence that alters our calculation of the way towards our aim and then choose freely to change our plan of action. If we take account of our experience and analyse our experience of chance, we are led to understand that the world is not determined and that there is room for the use of human freedom.status: publishe