Free Will and Determinism in The Iliad

In the great story of the Iliad, passed down by generations of bards, written down by Homer, and gifted to all humans, the soldiers on the battlefield fight life and death battles. Their survival depends on their valor, as well as their physical conditioning, intelligence and practice.

But the gods above have chosen sides. If they favor you they may shield you from a distant arrow, or they might trip your opponent, causing your victory. But they might also trip you, handing victory to your opponent and death to you.

The Iliad recognizes that one of the most difficult things in the life of a human is that we are never certain whether our achievements, success, victories in life are due to our own hard work, or due to the intervention of the gods, i.e. external circumstance over which we had no control. And of course or failures as well: were they due to our lack of discipline, our lack or preparation, our natural weaknesses and vices, or because the fates favored others? We never know.

But the implications are clear: to assume that all outcomes are predetermined by the gods and that our efforts don’t matter, is little better than cowardice. In spite of the fates, our actions make a huge difference. But to assume that all one’s life is the result of our own virtues and hard work is just hubris and hollow, conceited boasting. 

I am not a scholar, but I reread the Iliad every few years. It is a fable or story for grownups no matter where or we have lived.