← Meditations

Meditations — Page 10

English → Chinese Preface Level 9/10

In order to live in accord with nature, it is necessary to know what nature is; and to this end a threefold division of philosophy is made—into _Physics_, dealing with the universe and its laws, the problems of divine government and teleology; _Logic_, which trains the mind to discern true from false; and _Ethics_, which applies the knowledge thus gained and tested to practical life.

为了按照自然的法则生活,必须了解自然是什么;为此,哲学被划分为三个部分——"自然学",处理宇宙及其法则、神圣治理与目的论的问题;"逻辑学",训练心智辨别真伪;以及"伦理学",将由此获得并经过检验的知识应用于实际生活。

The Stoic system of physics was materialism with an infusion of pantheism.

斯多葛派的自然学体系是一种融入了泛神论的唯物主义。

In contradiction to Plato's view that the Ideas, or Prototypes, of phenomena alone really exist, the Stoics held that material objects alone existed; but immanent in the material universe was a spiritual force which acted through them, manifesting itself under many forms, as fire, æther, spirit, soul, reason, the ruling principle.

与柏拉图认为唯有现象的理念或原型才真实存在的观点相反,斯多葛派主张唯有物质对象才是存在的;然而在物质宇宙之中内在地蕴含着一种精神力量,通过物质而发挥作用,以多种形式显现自身,如火、以太、精气、灵魂、理性和主宰原则。

The universe, then, is God, of whom the popular gods are manifestations; while legends and myths are allegorical.

因此,宇宙即是神,民间诸神不过是神的显现;而传说与神话则具有寓言性质。

The soul of man is thus an emanation from the godhead, into whom it will eventually be re-absorbed.

人的灵魂因此是从神性中流溢而出的,最终将重新被吸收回归于神。

The divine ruling principle makes all things work together for good, but for the good of the whole.

神圣的主宰原则使万物共同趋向善,然而这是整体之善。

The highest good of man is consciously to work with God for the common good, and this is the sense in which the Stoic tried to live in accord with nature.

人的最高善是自觉地与神共同为公共之善而努力,这正是斯多葛派所追求的与自然和谐生活的意义所在。

In the individual it is virtue alone which enables him to do this; as Providence rules the universe, so virtue in the soul must rule man.

就个人而言,唯有美德才能使他做到这一点;正如天命主宰宇宙,灵魂中的美德也必须主宰人。

Vocabulary

为了
wèile — in order to; for the purpose of
按照
ànzhào — according to; in accordance with
自然
zìrán — nature; natural; naturally
de — structural particle indicating possession or modification
法则
fǎzé — rule; law; principle governing things
生活
shēnghuó — life; to live; daily existence
必须
bìxū — must; have to; obligatory
了解
liǎojiě — to understand; to find out about something
shì — to be; is; am; are
什么
shénme — what; whatever; any
为此
wèicǐ — for this reason; to this end
哲学
zhéxué — philosophy; the study of fundamental questions
bèi — passive marker; by (indicates passive voice)
划分
huàfēn — to divide; to partition into sections
wéi — to be; to serve as; into
三个
sāngè — three (items); a quantity of three
部分
bùfen — part; section; portion of a whole
自然学
zìránxué — natural philosophy; study of nature and cosmos
处理
chǔlǐ — to handle; to deal with; to process
宇宙
yǔzhòu — universe; cosmos; all of space and time
及其
jíqí — and its; along with its related aspects
神圣
shénshèng — sacred; divine; holy
治理
zhìlǐ — governance; to govern; to administer
yǔ — and; with; together with
目的论
mùdìlùn — teleology; doctrine of purpose-driven natural processes
问题
wèntí — question; problem; issue
逻辑学
luójíxué — logic; study of valid reasoning and argumentation
训练
xùnliàn — to train; to drill; systematic practice
心智
xīnzhì — mind; intellect; mental faculties
辨别
biànbié — to distinguish; to differentiate between things
真伪
zhēnwěi — truth and falsehood; authentic versus fake
以及
yǐjí — as well as; and also; together with
伦理学
lúnlǐxué — ethics; study of moral principles and conduct
jiāng — will; shall; going to (future marker)
由此
yóucǐ — from this; thereby; as a result of this
获得
huòdé — to obtain; to acquire; to gain
bìng — and; furthermore; simultaneously
经过
jīngguò — to go through; after undergoing a process
检验
jiǎnyàn — to test; to examine; to verify
知识
zhīshi — knowledge; learning; information acquired
应用于
yìngyòng yú — to apply to; to put into practical use
实际
shíjì — practical; actual; reality; real-world application
斯多葛派
Sīduōgě pài — Stoic school; ancient Greek philosophical movement
体系
tǐxì — system; organized structure of ideas or things
一种
yīzhǒng — a kind of; one type of
融入了
róngrùle — has incorporated; blended into; integrated within
泛神论
fànshénlùn — pantheism; belief that God is everything
唯物主义
wéiwù zhǔyì — materialism; philosophy that only matter exists
柏拉图
Bólātú — Plato; ancient Greek philosopher
认为
rènwéi — to think; to believe; to consider
唯有
wéiyǒu — only; solely; nothing but
现象
xiànxiàng — phenomenon; observable appearance of things
理念
lǐniàn — idea; concept; Platonic Form or ideal
huò — or; either; alternatively
原型
yuánxíng — archetype; prototype; original model
cái — only then; just; emphasizes condition required
真实
zhēnshí — real; true; genuine; authentic
存在
cúnzài — to exist; existence; being
观点
guāndiǎn — viewpoint; perspective; opinion
相反
xiāngfǎn — on the contrary; opposite; reverse
主张
zhǔzhāng — to advocate; claim; proposition or stance
物质
wùzhì — matter; material; physical substance
对象
duìxiàng — object; target; entity under consideration
才是
cáishì — only then is; it is precisely that
存在的
cúnzài de — that which exists; existing; real entities
然而
rán'ér — however; nevertheless; yet
zài — in; at; located at; existing within
之中
zhīzhōng — within; in the midst of; among
内在地
nèizài de — inherently; intrinsically; from within
蕴含着
yùnhánzhe — contains within; embodies; inherently holds
精神
jīngshén — spirit; mind; mental energy
力量
lìliàng — force; power; strength
通过
tōngguò — through; by means of; via
ér — and; yet; but; connecting clauses
发挥
fāhuī — to give play to; to bring into effect
作用
zuòyòng — function; effect; role; to act upon
yǐ — with; by; using; in the form of
多种
duōzhǒng — many kinds; various types; multiple forms
形式
xíngshì — form; shape; mode of appearance
显现
xiǎnxiàn — to manifest; to appear; to reveal itself
自身
zìshēn — oneself; itself; one's own self
rú — such as; like; for example
huǒ — fire; flame
以太
yǐtài — ether; subtle celestial element in ancient philosophy
精气
jīngqì — vital essence; life force; pneuma
灵魂
línghún — soul; spirit; essence of a being
理性
lǐxìng — reason; rationality; logical thinking faculty
hé — and; with; together with
主宰
zhǔzǎi — to dominate; master; controlling force
原则
yuánzé — principle; fundamental rule or standard
因此
yīncǐ — therefore; consequently; as a result
即是
jíshì — is precisely; that is to say; namely
shén — god; deity; divine being
民间
mínjiān — folk; popular; among common people
诸神
zhūshén — the gods; multiple deities; pantheon
不过是
búguòshì — merely; nothing more than; only
传说
chuánshuō — legend; folk tale; mythical story
神话
shénhuà — myth; mythology; divine narrative
zé — then; while; on the other hand
具有
jùyǒu — to possess; to have; to feature
寓言
yùyán — fable; allegory; story with moral lesson
性质
xìngzhì — nature; character; quality of something
rén — person; human being; people
cóng — from; since; following from
神性
shénxìng — divinity; divine nature; godliness
zhōng — middle; within; among; in
流溢
liúyì — to overflow; to emanate; to flow out from
而出
ér chū — and emerge; coming forth from something
最终
zuìzhōng — ultimately; finally; in the end
重新
chóngxīn — again; anew; once more
吸收
xīshōu — to absorb; to take in; to assimilate
回归
huíguī — to return; to go back; reversion
yú — in; at; to; from (literary preposition)
使
shǐ — to cause; to make; to enable
万物
wànwù — all things; everything in the universe
共同
gòngtóng — together; jointly; in common
趋向
qūxiàng — to tend toward; to move in direction of
shàn — good; goodness; virtue; the good
这是
zhèshì — this is; this constitutes
整体
zhěngtǐ — whole; entirety; as a complete unit
zhī — of; 's (literary possessive or linking particle)
最高
zuìgāo — highest; supreme; utmost
自觉地
zìjué de — consciously; with self-awareness; deliberately
公共
gōnggòng — public; communal; shared by all
努力
nǔlì — to strive; effort; to work hard
zhè — this; these
正是
zhèngshì — it is precisely; exactly; just
suǒ — that which; used before verbs as nominalizer
追求
zhuīqiú — to pursue; to seek after; aspiration
和谐
héxié — harmony; harmonious; peaceful agreement
意义
yìyì — meaning; significance; purpose
所在
suǒzài — where something lies; the place of; essence
jiù — regarding; as for; with respect to
个人
gèrén — individual; personal; the individual person
而言
éryán — speaking of; as far as is concerned
美德
měidé — virtue; moral excellence; admirable quality
才能
cáinéng — talent; ability; only then can
tā — he; him; third person singular male
做到
zuòdào — to achieve; to manage to do; to accomplish
这一点
zhè yīdiǎn — this point; this aspect; this particular thing
正如
zhèngrú — just as; exactly like; in the same way
天命
tiānmìng — fate; heaven's mandate; destiny
yě — also; too; as well; likewise
← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →