The operation of God in the universe; the unfolding of the divine plan. The concept is affirmed by the Stoics, and all three monotheistic religions. A common corollary is that it is somehow wrong to interfere with the workings of providence, particularly by ‘playing God’ in matters of life and death. In his essay on suicide, Hume elegantly demolishes this inference, pointing out that if it is impious to hasten one’s own end, it is equally impious to build a ship or a house.