Zeus Cross-examined (18)

What! you doubt that there are punishments and rewards to come? You doubt of that judgement-seat before which every soul is arraigned?

I have heard mention of a judge in that connexion;

And what of him?

Whom does he punish in particular?

Whom but the wicked?, Murderers, for instance, and temple-robbers.

And whom does he send to dwell with the heroes?

Good men and God-fearing, who have led virtuous lives.

Why?

Because they deserve punishment and reward respectively.

Suppose a man commits a crime accidentally; does he punish him just the same?

Certainly not.

Similarly, if a man involuntarily performed a good action, he would not reward him?

No.

Then there is no one for him to reward or punish.

How so?

Why, we men do nothing of our own free will: we are obeying an irresistible impulse,—that is, if there is any truth in what we settled just now, about Fate’s being the cause of everything. Does aman commit a murder? Fate is the murderess. Does he rob a temple? He has her instructions for it. So if there is going to be any justice in Minos’s sentences, he will punish Destiny, not Sisyphus; Fate, not Tantalus. What harm did these men do? They only obeyed orders.