← On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition"

On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 12

English → It Full Text Level 8/10

The power of prediction, of prospective prophecy, is that which is commonly regarded as the great prerogative of physical science.

Il potere della previsione, della profezia prospettica, è ciò che è comunemente considerato il grande privilegio della scienza fisica.

And truly it is a wonderful fact that one can go into a shop and buy for a small price a book, the "Nautical Almanac," which will foretell the exact position to be occupied by one of Jupiter's moons six months hence;

Ed è davvero un fatto meraviglioso che si possa entrare in un negozio e acquistare per un piccolo prezzo un libro, il "Nautical Almanac", che prevederà la posizione esatta che sarà occupata da una delle lune di Giove tra sei mesi;

nay, more, that, if it were worth while, the Astronomer-Royal could furnish us with as infallible a prediction applicable to 1980 or 2980.

anzi, di più, che, se ne valesse la pena, l'Astronomo Reale potrebbe fornirci una previsione altrettanto infallibile applicabile al 1980 o al 2980.

But astronomy is not less remarkable for its power of retrospective prophecy.

Ma l'astronomia non è meno notevole per il suo potere di profezia retrospettiva.

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.

Si dice che Talete, il più antico dei filosofi greci, le cui date di nascita e di morte sono incerte, ma che fiorì intorno al 600 a.C., abbia predetto un'eclissi di sole che ebbe luogo ai suoi tempi durante una battaglia tra i Medi e i Lidi.

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 ha scritto una memoria molto erudita e interessante [2] nella quale dimostra che tale eclissi era visibile in Lidia nel pomeriggio del 28 maggio dell'anno 585 a.C.

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.

Nessuno dubita che, nel giorno e all'ora menzionati dall'Astronomo Reale, il popolo della Lidia abbia visto il disco del sole completamente oscurato.

But, though we implicitly believe this retrospective prophecy, it is incapable of verification.

Ma, sebbene crediamo implicitamente a questa profezia retrospettiva, essa è incapace di verifica.

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.

In totale assenza di documenti storici, è impossibile anche solo concepire qualsiasi mezzo per accertare direttamente se l'eclissi di Talete sia avvenuta o meno.

Vocabulary

Il
The (masculine singular definite article)
potere
Power; ability; to be able to
della
Of the; from the (feminine singular)
previsione
Prediction; forecast; foresight
profezia
Prophecy; a prediction of future events
ciò
This; that; it (neutral demonstrative pronoun)
che
What; that; which (relative/interrogative pronoun)
comunemente
Commonly; usually; generally
considerato
Considered; regarded; esteemed
grande
Big; large; great
privilegio
Privilege; special right or advantage
scienza
Science; knowledge; systematic study
fisica
Physics; physical science of matter
Ed
And (used before vowels for euphony)
davvero
Really; truly; indeed; for real
un
A; an (masculine singular indefinite article)
fatto
Fact; deed; event; something that happened
meraviglioso
Wonderful; marvelous; amazing; extraordinary
si
Oneself; himself; herself; reflexive pronoun
possa
Can; may; to be able (subjunctive)
entrare
To enter; to go in; to come in
in
In; into; at; on; within
negozio
Shop; store; business establishment
acquistare
To buy; to purchase; to acquire
per
For; to; in order to; by
piccolo
Small; little; tiny; insignificant
prezzo
Price; cost; value of something
libro
Book; written work; publication
prevederà
Will predict; will foresee (future tense)
la
The (feminine singular definite article)
posizione
Position; location; place; situation
esatta
Exact; precise; accurate; correct
sarà
Will be; shall be (future tense)
occupata
Occupied; taken; busy; engaged
da
From; by; since; with; at
una
A; one (feminine singular indefinite)
delle
Of the; some (feminine plural article)
lune
Moons; lunar bodies orbiting planets
di
Of; from; about; by; with
Giove
Jupiter; Roman god; largest planet
tra
Between; among; within (time/space)
sei
Six; the number 6
mesi
Months; periods of time in calendar
anzi
Rather; in fact; on the contrary
più
More; plus; greater quantity or degree
se
If; whether; in case; supposing
ne
Of it; of them; some; any
valesse
Were worth; would be worth (conditional)
pena
Pain; suffering; penalty; effort
Astronomo
Astronomer; scientist who studies stars
Reale
Royal; kingly; of the king
potrebbe
Could; might; would be able to
fornirci
To provide us; to supply us with
altrettanto
As much; equally; the same amount
infallibile
Infallible; incapable of error; reliable
al
To the; at the (contraction)
Ma
But; yet; however; nevertheless
astronomia
Astronomy; study of celestial objects
non
Not; no; negation in Italian
meno
Less; fewer; minus; at least
notevole
Notable; remarkable; significant; noteworthy
suo
His; her; its; one's own
Si
Oneself; itself; reflexive pronoun form
dice
Says; tells; is said (3rd person)
antico
Ancient; old; from earlier times
dei
Of the; some (plural masculine article)
filosofi
Philosophers; lovers of wisdom and learning
greci
Greeks; people from ancient Greece
le
The (feminine plural definite article)
cui
Whose; of whom; which (relative)
date
Dates; given; feminine plural form
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