academica of cicero. - 912 Freedom Library

The Project Gutenberg eBook of ...
Ratum: cf. 141.
§28. Perceptum: thoroughly known and grasped. Similar arguments are very frequent in Sextus,
e.g. Adv. Math. VIII. 281, where the dogmatist argues that if proof be impossible, as the sceptic
says, there must be a proof to show it impossible; the sceptic doctrine must be provable. Cf. 109
of this book. Postulanti: making it a necessity for the discussion; cf. De Leg. I. 21. Consentaneum
esse: a???????? e??a?. Ut alia: although others. Tantum abest ut—ut: cf. Madv. Gram. 440 a.
§29. Pressius: cf. De Fato 31, 33, N.D. II. 20, T.D. IV. 14, Hortensius fragm. 46 ed. Nobbe. The
word is mocked in 109. Decretum: of course the Academics would say they did not hold this d??
µa as stabile fixum ratum but only as probabile. Sextus however Pyrrh. Hyp. I. 226 (and
elsewhere) accuses them of making it in reality what in words they professed it not to be, a fixed
dogma. Sentitis enim: cf. sentis in D.F. III. 26. Fluctuare: "to be at sea," Halm fluctuari, but the
deponent verb is not elsewhere found in Cic. Summa: cf. summa philosophiae D.F. II. 86. Veri
falsi: cf. n. on 92. Quae visa: so Halm for MSS. quaevis, which edd. had changed to quae a
quovis. Repudiari: the selection depended on the probabile of course, with the Academics. Veri
falsique: these words were used in different senses by the dogmatist and the sceptic, the former
meant by them "the undestructibly true and false." This being so, the statements in the text are in
no sense arguments, they are mere assertions, as Sext. says, ???? fase? ?s?? fe?eta? ???? fas??
(A.M. VII. 315), fase? µe? fas?? ep?s?e??seta? (ib. 337). Cognoscendi initium: cf. 26, "This I
have," the Academic would reply, "in my probabile." Extremum expetendi: a rather unusual
phrase for the ethical finis. Ut moveri non possint: so ???e?s?a? is perpetually used in Sext. Est
ut opinor: so Halm after Ernesti for sit of the MSS. I think it very likely that the MSS. reading is
right, and that the whole expression is an imitation of the Greek ???a??? e???s?? and the like.
The subj. is supported by D.F. III. 20, De Off. I. 8, Ad Att. XIII. 14, 3, where ut opinor is thrown in
as here, and by Ac. II. 17, D.F. III. 21, 24, N.D. I. 109, where si placet is appended in a similar
way.
§§30—36. Summary. With respect to physical science, we might urge that nature has
constructed man with great art. His mind is naturally formed for the attainment of
knowledge (30). For this purpose the mind uses the senses, and so gradually arrives
at virtue, which is the perfection of the reason. Those then who deny that any
certainty can be attained through the senses, throw the whole of life into confusion
(31). Some sceptics say "we cannot help it." Others distinguish between the absolute
absence of certainty, and the denial of its absolute presence. Let us deal with these
rather than with the former (32). Now they on the one hand profess to distinguish
between true and false, and on the other hold that no absolutely certain method for
distinguishing between true and false is possible (33). This is absurd, a thing cannot
be known at all unless by such marks as can appertain to no other thing. How can a
thing be said to be "evidently white," if the possibility remains that it may be really
black? Again, how can a thing be "evident" at all if it may be after all a mere
phantom (34)? There is no definite mark, say the sceptics, by which a thing may be
known. Their "probability" then is mere random guess work (35). Even if they only
profess to decide after careful pondering of the circumstances, we reply that a
decision which is still possibly false is useless (36).
§30. Physicis: neuter not masc.; cf. I. 6. Libertatem et licentiam: et = "and even." Libertas = pa??
?s?a as often in Tacitus. Abditis rebus et obscuris: cf. n. on I. 15, and the word s??es??asµe???
Sext. Adv. Math. VII. 26. Lucem eripere: like tollere (n. on 26), cf. 38, 103 and N.D. I. 6. For the
sense see n. on 16, also 61. Artificio: this word is used in Cic. as equivalent to ars in all its
senses, cf. 114 and De Or. II. 83. Fabricata esset: the expression is sneered at in 87. Quem ad
modum primum: so Halm rightly for MSS. prima or primo, which latter is not often followed by
deinde in Cicero. Primum is out of position, as in 24. Appetitio pulsa: = mota, set in motion. For
???µ? see 24. Intenderemus: as in the exx. given in 20. Fons: "reservoir," rather than "source"
here. It will be noted that s???ata?es?? must take place before the ???µ? is roused. Ipse sensus
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14970/14970-h/14970-h.htm[1/5/2010 10:31:57 AM]