Soft Determinism and Oedipus the King

The fates of the Greeks and their understanding of those fates bears some resemblance to the modern notion of Soft Determinism. For example, Oedipus was destined to greatness and banishment, but not all aspects of his life were predetermined. In some ways, he seems to have had total control; in others he had none. Fate’s grip was tight, but it was not a death grip.

It seems that the Greeks’ belief in the fates only goes so far. Certain aspects of their lives are fated from the moment of birth. But even with their belief in fate, the laws must be obliged and the transgressors punished. This contrasts with the Modern perspective of the Determinist. This philosophy suggests that everything that we do is only a result of our surroundings, the makeup of our genetics; it is, in a sense, fated. In contrast, the Greeks held individuals responsible for their deeds in spite of the motive.

This can be seen when Oedipus’ accidentally murders of his own father and is banished. Never once did Oedipus attempt to say that the death was not his fault; he did not deny that he had killed his father and slept with his mother. On the contrary, he took full responsibility for his actions, even though he had no evil intent. On the other hand, neither was he fated to blind himself at the end of the chronicle; he could have accepted his banishment and gone on with his life as best he could. As a result, he is shunned by the Greeks for the ghastly deed of self-mutilation.

It seems that fate’s reach stretches only so far and that many Oedipus’ decisions were his own. Oedipus may have been destined to share an incestuous relationship with his mother and to kill his father, but the other aspects of his life were a result of his choices. While every path led in one direction, there remained paths from which to choose. As a result, Oedipus maintained the freedom to choose how his life would end. He could have merely accepted his banishment, leaving to lead a meaningful life elsewhere. Instead, he blinded himself, thus ensuring a life of pain and suffering.

In today’s world, people are consumed with blaming others for their problems, never taking accountability for their own actions.