An attempt is being made in this paper to examine the notion of chance, using the framework of Panayotis Kanellopoulos΄ metaphysics as our main point of departure. Major points of determinism analysis are being examined to indicate its inadequacy per se when it deals with processes of nature as well as with processes of mind, to conclude that its antithesis to indeterminism is being overcome on the basis of probability theory. While the probability theory founds the probable and not the chance event, the existence of chance is being assumed especially by several statistical notions such as "degrees of freedom" taken into account to isolate probability systems from external influences and to solve simultaneous equations related to these systems. Mathematical foundation of chance is being also supported by modern experimental psychology on the processes of mind which, although does not prove directly the existence of freedom in the realm of human understanding, at least it does not renounce it. The thesis is being finally formulated that the notion of chance is an expression olm of nature as well as in the sphere of human consciousness.
Academy of Athens
