 The extant evidence nonetheless suffices to outline some of Iamblichus’ views. Two letters focus on providence, fate and free will against the background of Iamblichus’ account of causation, which sees the One as the principle of all being and the lower levels of reality as characterized by increasing degrees of multiplicity (see the letters to Macedonius and Sopater: Johannes Stobaeus I, 5, 17 and I, 5, 18). Iamblichus identifies the sphere of operation of fate with nature, i.e., “the immanent causal principle of the cosmos and that which immanently comprises the totality of causes of the realm of generation” (DP-2009: 35). These views are reminiscent of the Stoic deterministic model of causation, but Iamblichus also emphasises that the soul contains within itself a free and independent life and is able to emancipate itself from worldly influences (see Johannes Stobaeus I, 8, 45a).