The Spectre of Stoicism – the Role of Justus Lipsius in the Hobbes-Bramhall Debate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/szhf.2017.031Keywords
Thomas Hobbes, John Bramhall, Julius Lipsius, stoicism, necessity, determinismAbstract
The aim of this paper is to highlight two interrelated aspects of the Hobbes-Bramhall debate (focusing mainly on Bramhall’s merits): (1) the numerous issues raised in the dispute can be reduced to one fundamental question (to that between hypothetical and absolute necessity), and although Hobbes intended to seem like a hypothetical necessitarian, Bramhall was successful in unmasking his opponent. (2) Hobbes’ absolute necessitarian standpoint is also correctly identified by Bramhall as a (partial) recapitulation of Lipsian Stoicism. Hence, by drawing up the outlines of Lipsius’ determinism and its effects on Hobbes’ philosophy, the paper intends to call for the reconsideration of Lipsius’ importance in the history of philosophy.
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