TR4.1009 “Ĭ méne ăs thóugh Ĭ lábŏured mé ĭn thís TR4.1010 Tŏ enquérĕn whích thy̆ng cáuse ŏf whích thy̆ng bé: TR4.1011 Ăs whéithĕr thát thĕ préscĭence óf Gŏd ís TR4.1012 Thĕ cértĕyn cáuse ŏf thé nĕcéssĭté TR4.1013 Ŏf thýngĕs thát tŏ cómĕn bén, părdé, TR4.1014 Ŏr íf nĕcéssĭté ŏf thýng cŏmýngĕ TR4.1015 Bĕ cáusĕ cértĕyn óf thĕ púrvĕyíngĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): I intend, as if I were taking pains over this, to enquire which thing is the cause of which thing: whether God’s foreknowledge is the certain cause of the necessity of things that are to come, indeed; or if the necessity of things to come be certain cause of the providence.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): この問題についておれが骨折っているのは、どちらがどちらの原因であるのか調べることなのだ。つまり、神の予知が、確実に来るべき事柄の必然性の確かな原因なのか、それとも来るべき事柄の必然性が、予知の確かな原因なのかどうかなのだ。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 我所要穷究的是，到底何者为因，何者为果：上帝先知为因，事物产生的必然性为果？或是事物产生的必然性为因，而先知为果？我虽不追求因果的先后，我却明瞭这点，凡是预知之事必然产生，虽不论其是否因为预知而产生才成为必然。
Word Information
- Etymology: OF
- Addresser: Troilus
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: cause or reason
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 5. (c) of the control of events: fixed, invariable (s.v. certain, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003): N/A
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
determined, fixed, invariable
Comments from the Editor
The lines 4.953–1085 form a long speech by Troilus on predestination, which cannot be found in Fil. This speech paraphrases Bo 5.pr3.7–71. Troilus applies a fatalistic view here and considers that human will is constrained by God’s foreknowledge of it.