Lazy argument

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The lazy argument (ἀργὸς λόγος) is an attempt at undermining doctrines of fate.

It runs basically that if it is one's fate to recover from a disease, then whether or not one seeks medical attention or takes medicine is inconsequential. Additionally, if it is fated that the disease will prove fatal, it would have been just as futile to have sought medical attention or to have taken medicine. Therefore, we ought not do anything. For, whether we act in one way or another will do little to undermine the force of fate.

The Stoic philosopher Chrysippus' refutation of the lazy argument is given in Cicero's On Fate ("De fato").

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