Cicero's De fato reflects the discussion that took place in the age of Hellenism about whether everything that happens is determined by fate in a way that makes this writing worth reading not only as a philosophical-historical testimony, but also as a contribution to systematic philosophy. For the question of fate is illuminated in it not only from the various perspectives from which the Stoics, Epicureans and Neo-Academics discussed it, but also from the various aspects from which it was the subject of this discussion as a problem touching on natural philosophy and ethics as well as logic. The fact that Cicero does not content himself with reporting on this discussion, but rather engages in it himself as an advocate of the Neo-Academics, lends his writing a special charm.
