The ancient Greek historians (Harvard lectures) by J. B. Bury.

204 ANCIENT GREEK HISTORIANS LECT.

It is probable that Stoicism had something to
do with his change of view. It is certain that
he came under the influence of the new school of
liberal Stoics, through intercourse with Panaetius,
who, like himself, was an inmate of the house of
Scipio at Rome. "I remember," says a speaker
in Cicero's De Republica,' "that you, Scipio, often
conversed with Panaetius in the presence of Polybius, two Greeks the most deeply versed in
politics" (rerun civiliurm). Polybius did not
become a Stoic, but he assimilated some Stoic
ideas, as in his earlier life he had been influenced
by the Peripatetics.
In his actual treatment and presentation of
historical events, the fluctuation in his views on
this question probably did not make much difference. A change in his views as to the freedom
of the will would have affected his treatment far
more deeply. I know for myself that on days
when I am a determinist I look on history in one
way, and on days when I am an indeterminist,
in quite another. Polybius was an indeterminist,
like most Greeks; he believed in free-will. The
particular Stoic influences to which he submitted
did not touch this doctrine. For Panaetius did
not share the doctrine of Chrysippus and older
Stoics, that the world is governed by laws of iron
necessity which exclude free-will.
We can see the results of his contact with
Stoicism in the account which Polybius gives of
I i. 21. 34.