Philosophy on the concepts of destiny and fate has existed since the Hellenistic period with groups such as the Stoics and the Epicureans.
The Stoics believed that human decisions and actions ultimately went according to a divine plan devised by a god. They claimed that although humans theoretically have free will, their souls and the circumstances under which they live are all a part of the universal network of fate.
The Epicureans challenged the Stoic beliefs, denying the existence of this divine fate. They believed that men’s actions were voluntary so long as they were rational.[5]