On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 12
The power of prediction, of prospective prophecy, is that which is commonly regarded as the great prerogative of physical science.
Die Kraft der Vorhersage, der vorausschauenden Prophezeiung, gilt gemeinhin als das große Vorrecht der Naturwissenschaft.
nay, more, that, if it were worth while, the Astronomer-Royal could furnish us with as infallible a prediction applicable to 1980 or 2980.
ja, mehr noch, dass der Königliche Astronom, wenn es sich lohnen würde, uns eine ebenso unfehlbare Vorhersage für das Jahr 1980 oder 2980 liefern könnte.
But astronomy is not less remarkable for its power of retrospective prophecy.
Aber die Astronomie ist nicht weniger bemerkenswert für ihre Fähigkeit zur rückblickenden Prophezeiung.
Thales, oldest of Greek philosophers, the dates of whose birth and death are uncertain, but who flourished about 600 B.C., is said to have foretold an eclipse of the sun which took place in his time during a battle between the Medes and the Lydians.
Thales, der älteste der griechischen Philosophen, dessen Geburts- und Sterbedaten ungewiss sind, der jedoch um 600 v. Chr. wirkte, soll eine Sonnenfinsternis vorhergesagt haben, die zu seiner Zeit während einer Schlacht zwischen den Medern und den Lydern stattfand.
Sir George Airy has written a very learned and interesting memoir [2] in which he proves that such an eclipse was visible in Lydia on the afternoon of the 28th of May in the year 585 B.C.
Sir George Airy hat eine sehr gelehrte und interessante Abhandlung [2] verfasst, in der er beweist, dass eine solche Sonnenfinsternis in Lydien am Nachmittag des 28. Mai im Jahre 585 v. Chr. sichtbar war.
No one doubts that, on the day and at the hour mentioned by the Astronomer-Royal, the people of Lydia saw the face of the sun totally obscured.
Niemand zweifelt daran, dass die Menschen in Lydien an dem vom Königlichen Astronomen genannten Tag und zur genannten Stunde sahen, wie das Antlitz der Sonne vollständig verdunkelt wurde.
But, though we implicitly believe this retrospective prophecy, it is incapable of verification.
Aber obwohl wir dieser rückblickenden Prophezeiung vorbehaltlos glauben, lässt sie sich nicht überprüfen.
In the total absence of historical records, it is impossible even to conceive any means of ascertaining directly whether the eclipse of Thales happened or not.
Beim völligen Fehlen historischer Aufzeichnungen ist es unmöglich, sich auch nur irgendein Mittel vorzustellen, um direkt festzustellen, ob die Sonnenfinsternis des Thales stattgefunden hat oder nicht.
Vocabulary
- Die
- The (feminine singular definite article)
- Kraft
- Power, strength, force, energy or ability
- der
- The (masculine singular definite article)
- Vorhersage
- Prediction, forecast or prognosis of future events
- vorausschauenden
- Foresighted, forward-looking, anticipatory
- gilt
- Is considered, counts as or applies to
- gemeinhin
- Commonly, generally or usually
- als
- As, when or than in comparisons
- das
- The (neuter singular definite article)
- große
- Great, large or big in size
- Naturwissenschaft
- Natural science or physical science discipline
- ja
- Yes or indeed for emphasis
- mehr
- More in quantity, amount or degree
- noch
- Still, yet or even more emphasis
- dass
- That (subordinating conjunction)
- Königliche
- Royal, regal or of a king
- Astronom
- Astronomer who studies celestial bodies
- wenn
- If or when used conditionally
- es
- It (neuter singular pronoun)
- sich
- Oneself, himself, herself reflexive pronoun
- lohnen
- To be worth, to pay off worthwhile
- würde
- Would conditional form of werden
- uns
- Us or ourselves dative pronoun
- eine
- A or one (feminine singular article)
- ebenso
- Equally, likewise or just as much
- für
- For or in favor of something
- Jahr
- Year or annual period of time
- oder
- Or used for alternatives choices
- liefern
- To deliver, supply or provide
- könnte
- Could or might conditional possibility
- Aber
- But or however for contrast
- Astronomie
- Astronomy study of celestial bodies
- ist
- Is (present tense of sein)
- nicht
- Not for negation
- weniger
- Less or fewer in amount
- bemerkenswert
- Remarkable, noteworthy or striking
- ihre
- Her or their possessive pronoun
- Fähigkeit
- Ability, capability or capacity
- zur
- To the (contraction of zu der)
- älteste
- Oldest or earliest in time
- griechischen
- Greek relating to Greece country
- Philosophen
- Philosophers who study wisdom philosophy
- dessen
- Whose or of which relative pronoun
- Geburts-
- Birth related compound word element
- und
- And for connecting words together
- ungewiss
- Uncertain, unclear or not definite
- sind
- Are (plural present tense of sein)
- jedoch
- However or nevertheless for contrast
- um
- Around or approximately in time
- wirkte
- Worked or was active during
- soll
- Shall or is supposed to
- Sonnenfinsternis
- Solar eclipse moon blocks sun
- vorhergesagt
- Predicted or foretold in advance
- haben
- To have (auxiliary or main verb)
- zu
- To for direction or purpose
- seiner
- His or of him possessive
- Zeit
- Time or era historical period
- während
- During or while temporal conjunction
- einer
- A or one feminine dative
- Schlacht
- Battle or military conflict engagement
- zwischen
- Between two things or people
- den
- The (plural accusative article)
- stattfand
- Took place or occurred happened
- Sir
- Sir title of respect nobility
- hat
- Has (third person singular present)
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