SARAH! And now for a random GREEK question...

[Independent Gal]

Well, not a language question, actually, an Aristotle question (so, really a Macedonian question?)

Poor you, we really are putting you to work aren''t we?

If you know your Aristotle pretty well, do you happen to remember where he says that deliberation is always over things which are inherently uncertain, or it might have been that you can''t deliberate over something which is certain? Ring any bells? Don''t knock yourself out, but if you have any clues, I''d be REALLY grateful. (long story! but I need the citation)

 

[sarahthewarrior]

Hi Independent Gal,

That''s actually a pretty common theme throughout Aristotle. I''m guessing you just want an English rendition of this, but let me know if you want the Greek.

Here are some possibilities for the phrase you''re thinking of:

"Everything which of necessity either is or will be, or which cannot possibly be or come to pass, is outside the scope of deliberation."

That''s from Aristotle''s Rhetoric 1.4.2 (Bekker page 1359a), and a link to that translation is here.







There''s a similar remark in the same work at 1.2.12 (Bekker page 1357a):

"But we only deliberate about things which seem to admit of issuing in two ways; as for those things which cannot in the past, present, or future be otherwise, no one deliberates about them, if he supposes that they are such; for nothing would be gained by it."

A link to that translation is here.







A similar idea is expressed in his On Interpretation, Part 9:

"There would be no need to deliberate or to take trouble, on the supposition that if we should adopt a certain course, a certain result would follow, while, if we did not, the result would not follow."

A link to that translation can be found here.







And the final quotation that comes to mind is from his Nicomachean Ethics, 3.3.10 (Bekker page 1112b), and there is a LOT about deliberation in this section:

"Deliberation then is employed in matters which, though subject to rules that generally hold good, are uncertain in their issue; or where the issue is indeterminate, and where, when the matter is important, we take others into our deliberations, distrusting our own capacity to decide."

And a link to that translation can be found here.






That''s all I''ve got off the top of my head. Hope this helps!

 

[Independent Gal]

Sarah, you''re an ANGEL! Thanks so much. I hate footnotes. When I''ve been working on something for ages sometimes I just keep writing ''insert citation''. Then months later when I finish it up I''m all ''FROM WHERE!??'' I''m such a goofball.

And hey the next time someone says ''CLASSICS?! What''s THAT good for?'' you can tell them your expertise are highly sought after by brides and diamond afficionados. Then just smile when they wrinkle their brow.

 

[sarahthewarrior]

Date: 4/29/2007 7:16:35 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Sarah, you''re an ANGEL! Thanks so much. I hate footnotes. When I''ve been working on something for ages sometimes I just keep writing ''insert citation''. Then months later when I finish it up I''m all ''FROM WHERE!??'' I''m such a goofball.

And hey the next time someone says ''CLASSICS?! What''s THAT good for?'' you can tell them your expertise are highly sought after by brides and diamond afficionados. Then just smile when they wrinkle their brow.

Ha, I was just thinking that after I saw your question! "Boy, these brides have some weird questions about classics!"

Glad to be of service.