Fate and the Warning

.:.Prompt.:.

Three views of Fate: Ancient, Medieval, and Enlightenment
In the Ancient world, as the Editor of the Norton Anthology of Literature points out, “even behind the gods stands the mysterious power of Fate.” We have seen this clearly in Homer’s Iliad.
There are actually two views of Fate in the middle ages: the secular and the religious.
    Secular: as expressed in the song text, “O Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi,” from Carmina Burana
    Religious: St. Augustine of Hippo (500 AD): “On Fate” from The city of God (Course Pack);
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626): “Of Fortune” (Course Pack).
    Sir Frances Bacon is an Enlightenment thinker, while St. Augustine of Hippo (obviously not the same one who went to Christianize England in 597 AD) is writing between the Ancient and Medieval worlds. During the Enlightenment, Francis Bacon expresses a rather modern view toward Fate. Obviously, the Medieval Christian world insists that God is responsible for everything that happens.
          BLOG: Find a song about Fate. Post the lyrics and a link to Youtube, Grooveshark, or Naxos. Explain the song’s relevance to our study.  Would St. Augustine or Bacon agree?

.:.Blog.:.

          Sir Frances Bacon and St. Augustine of Hippo both share their views towards the meaning of fate, however they really only share one thing in common: the subject. In the text by St. Augustine of Hippo, he proclaims that fate is the will of the gods. That the gods determine what one's fate is and how they will live their lives. However, Bacon explains that fate is not by the will gods, that they do not determine how one shall live their lives nor even how they themselves live their lives.  He proclaims that fate is something that one decides for themselves.  Towards the end his text, he explains how people who believe that fate is the will of the gods, also believe that star alignment can determine your fate.  He then goes on to explain how there is no correlation with star alignment and ones personal fate, its just how one wants to live their life versus star-gazing nonsense.

          I have chosen the song "The Warning" by Black Sabbath to show fate. Black Sabbath does a really good job in this song, and I can't help but feel that Bacon would agree with this song and yet disagree with it all the same. St. Augustine of Hippo would be rolling in his grave if the two were to talk about this song. The man sees and feels the warning but he's in denial and refusing to accept it, thus making his own route.