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To: Dataman; Alamo-Girl; Phaedrus; unspun; PatrickHenry; Askel5; beckett; cornelis; RadioAstronomer; ...
Nature is the Greek name, Random Chance the Roman for the same god.

Or to name names: We might say the "Greek name" seems to be code for the progeny of Plato and Aristotle, incorporating the pre-Socratics as needed (who are reliable guides still on certain lively questions, IMHO). "Random Chance" seems to encode the progeny of the Stoics, notably Epictetus.

Humankind has always found ways to discover divine principles at work in nature. Indeed, the entire idea of "law" -- physical or moral -- would be totally unfathomable without reference to the idea of Lawgiver -- who is both constitution maker and final judge.

The Stoic finds his fundamental principle in his natural instinct for survival in an indifferent, even hostile world.

The Greeks, on the other hand, didn't exactly spend too much time worrying over their physical butts (as it were). They knew that an unimaginably greater reality than could ever be sensed by five senses in four dimensions was the actual Reality from which and in which all and everything derived their particular existence; and that this same Law -- being divine -- held forever, in the here and now and into the future eternally.

As for the corresponding Stoic case, I highly recommend a reading of Walter Pater's Marius, the Epicurean.

Personally, I found that novel dispiriting, even quite depressing. But the tale it tells is relevant for us humans in the "here and now." (IMO)

475 posted on 01/16/2004 7:05:08 PM PST by betty boop (God used beautiful mathematics in creating the world. -- Paul Dirac)
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To: betty boop; anyone
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:33
481 posted on 01/17/2004 12:39:13 PM PST by unspun (The uncontextualized life is not worth living. | I'm not "Unspun w/ AnnaZ" but I appreciate.)
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To: betty boop
Thanks for the ping.

Teilhard’s - Omega Point
Kant’s – Noumena
Schroedinger - Cat in a box
Dr. Seuss – Cat in The Hat
Darwin –RM&NS
Meme – Dawkins
"No phenomenon is phenomenon unless it is an observed phenomenon." –Wheeler
Monster Group – Mathematicians

Who is playing with a full deck? Who is bluffing?
It seems almost all are waiting/wanting for more cards…

The Grand Casino!

484 posted on 01/17/2004 4:39:57 PM PST by Heartlander
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