The purpose of this article is to examine how Aristotelianism in A.D. 2-3C,
especially Alexander of Aphrodisias, clashes with determinism and how he
develops Aristotle’s concept, ‘what is up to us’(eph’ h?min). In order to
confront determinism, according to which all events are already determined by
fate, Alexander examines the concept, ‘what is up to us’, and try to
demonstrate that something is caused not by fate but by us. What is up to us,
unlike that of Aristotle, becomes to mean that what agent does is free not only
from external coercion but from internal compulsion. This results from the fact
that Alexander holds the literal meaning of ‘what is up to us’ more radical
than Aristotle while he tries to offend determinism. This leads us to see an
agent as a decision-maker, which we cannot find in Aristotle’s thought.