On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 11
History, in the ordinary acceptation of the word, is based upon the interpretation of documentary evidence; and documents would have no evidential value unless historians were justified in their assumption that they have come into existence by the operation of causes similar to those of which documents are, in our present experience, the effects.
歴史とは、通常の語義においては、文書による証拠の解釈に基づくものである。そして、文書が現在の我々の経験において結果としてもたらされるものと類似した原因の作用によって存在するに至ったという歴史家の仮定が正当であるのでなければ、文書は何ら証拠としての価値を持たないであろう。
If a written history can be produced otherwise than by human agency, or if the man who wrote a given document was actuated by other than ordinary human motives, such documents are of no more evidential value than so many arabesques.
もし書かれた歴史が人間の行為以外の手段によって生み出され得るとしたら、あるいはある文書を書いた人物が通常の人間的動機以外のものに突き動かされていたとしたら、そのような文書はアラベスク模様と何ら変わらない証拠価値しか持たないことになる。
Archaeology, which takes up the thread of history beyond the point at which documentary evidence fails us, could have no existence, except for our well grounded confidence that monuments and works of art or artifice, have never been produced by causes different in kind from those to which they now owe their origin.
考古学は、文書による証拠が及ばない地点を越えて歴史の糸を引き継ぐものであるが、記念碑や芸術・工芸の作品が現在それらの起源に関わる原因と種類において異なる原因によって生み出されたことは決してないという、根拠のある確信がなければ、存在し得ないものである。
And geology, which traces back the course of history beyond the limits of archaeology, could tell us nothing except for the assumption that, millions of years ago, water, heat, gravitation, friction, animal and vegetable life, caused effects of the same kind as they now cause.
また地質学は、考古学の限界を超えて歴史の経緯を遡るものであるが、何百万年もの昔に水、熱、重力、摩擦、動物および植物の生命が現在引き起こすものと同種の結果を引き起こしたという仮定がなければ、何も語ることができないであろう。
Nay, even physical astronomy, in so far as it takes us back to the uttermost point of time which palaetiological science can reach, is founded upon the same assumption.
いや、自然天文学でさえも、古因論的科学が到達し得る時間の究極の地点にまで我々を連れ戻す限りにおいて、同じ仮定の上に成り立っているのである。
If the law of gravitation ever failed to be true, even to a small extent, for that period, the calculations of the astronomer have no application.
もし重力の法則がその時代においてわずかな程度であれ真実でなかったとしたら、天文学者の計算は何ら適用の余地を持たないことになる。
Vocabulary
- 歴史
- rekishi — History; the study of past events.
- と
- to — Particle meaning 'and' or quotation marker.
- は
- wa — Topic-marking particle in Japanese sentences.
- 通常
- tsūjō — Usually; normally; under ordinary circumstances.
- の
- no — Possessive or linking particle in Japanese.
- 語義
- gogi — Word meaning; lexical definition of a term.
- に
- ni — Particle indicating direction, location, or purpose.
- おい
- oi — Used in 'において' meaning 'in' or 'regarding'.
- て
- te — Conjunctive particle connecting verb phrases.
- 文書
- bunsho — Document; written record or official paper.
- よる
- yoru — To be based on; to depend on something.
- 証拠
- shōko — Evidence; proof supporting a claim or argument.
- 解釈
- kaishaku — Interpretation; explanation of meaning or content.
- 基づく
- motodzuku — To be based on; to be grounded in something.
- もの
- mono — Thing; entity; something that exists or matters.
- で
- de — Particle indicating means, location, or context.
- ある
- aru — To exist; to be (for inanimate things).
- そして
- soshite — And then; furthermore; connecting following statement.
- が
- ga — Subject-marking particle or conjunctive 'but'.
- 現在
- genzai — Present time; the current moment or period.
- 我々
- wareware — We; us; referring to a group of people.
- 経験
- keiken — Experience; knowledge gained through personal involvement.
- 結果
- kekka — Result; outcome of an action or event.
- として
- toshite — As; in the capacity or role of something.
- もたらさ
- motarasa — Stem of 'bring about'; to cause or produce.
- れる
- reru — Passive or potential auxiliary verb suffix.
- 類似
- ruiji — Resemblance; similarity between two things or concepts.
- し
- shi — Conjunctive verb form; 'and' listing reasons.
- た
- ta — Past tense auxiliary verb marker in Japanese.
- 原因
- gen'in — Cause; the reason something happened or exists.
- 作用
- sayō — Effect; action; influence one thing has on another.
- よっ
- yot(te) — By means of; due to (conjunctive form).
- 存在
- sonzai — Existence; the state of existing or being present.
- する
- suru — To do; general-purpose action verb in Japanese.
- 至っ
- itatt(e) — Reached; arrived at a certain point or conclusion.
- という
- to iu — Called; described as; used for quoting or naming.
- 歴史家
- rekishika — Historian; a scholar who studies history professionally.
- 仮定
- katei — Assumption; hypothesis; a supposition taken as premise.
- 正当
- seitō — Legitimate; justified; rightful or proper reasoning.
- なけれ
- nakere — Conditional negative form of 'nai' (not be).
- ば
- ba — Conditional particle meaning 'if' or 'when'.
- 何ら
- nanra — Any; whatsoever; used in negative constructions.
- 価値
- kachi — Value; worth; the importance or merit of something.
- を
- wo — Object-marking particle indicating direct object.
- 持た
- mota — Stem of 'motsu'; to hold or possess something.
- ない
- nai — Negative auxiliary; does not; is not present.
- あろ
- aro — Volitional form of 'aru'; probably is or would be.
- う
- u — Volitional auxiliary expressing conjecture or intention.
- もし
- moshi — If; supposing that; used to introduce conditionals.
- 書か
- kaka — Stem of 'kaku' passive; written or recorded form.
- れ
- re — Passive auxiliary verb indicating receiving an action.
- 人間
- ningen — Human being; a person; humanity in general.
- 行為
- kōi — Act; deed; a deliberate human action or conduct.
- 以外
- igai — Other than; except for; besides a certain thing.
- 手段
- shudan — Means; method; a way of achieving something.
- 生み出さ
- umidasa — Stem of 'produce'; to create or generate something.
- 得る
- eru — To be able to; to obtain or gain something.
- たら
- tara — Conditional 'if/when' form following past tense.
- あるい
- arui(wa) — Or; alternatively; used to present another option.
- 書い
- kai(te) — Conjunctive form of 'kaku'; having written something.
- 人物
- jinbutsu — Person; figure; a notable or described individual.
- 人間的
- ningenteki — Human; humanistic; pertaining to human nature.
- 動機
- dōki — Motive; motivation; reason behind an action.
- 突き動かさ
- tsukiugokasa — Driven; compelled; strongly motivated by inner force.
- い
- i — Conjunctive form of 'iru'; being or continuing state.
- その
- sono — That; the (referring to previously mentioned thing).
- よう
- yō — Like; similar to; appears or seems a certain way.
- な
- na — Adjectival particle linking na-adjectives to nouns.
- 模様
- moyō — Pattern; design; decorative motif on a surface.
- 変わら
- kawara — Stem of 'change'; remaining the same, unchanged.
- しか
- shika — Only; nothing but; used with negative verbs.
- こと
- koto — Thing; fact; abstract noun nominalizer in Japanese.
- なる
- naru — To become; to turn into a different state.
- 考古学
- kōkogaku — Archaeology; study of human history through excavation.
- 及ば
- oyoba — Stem of 'reach'; not reaching or extending to.
- 地点
- chiten — Point; location; a specific place or position.
- 越え
- koe — Crossing over; surpassing; going beyond a boundary.
- 糸
- ito — Thread; string; a thin strand connecting things.
- 引き継ぐ
- hikitsugu — To take over; to inherit or carry on something.
- 記念碑
- kinenhi — Monument; memorial stone commemorating a person or event.
- や
- ya — Listing particle meaning 'and' among several items.
- 芸術
- geijutsu — Art; fine arts; creative expression at high level.
- 工芸
- kōgei — Craft; industrial art; skilled handmade creative work.
- 作品
- sakuhin — Work; piece; a created artistic or literary product.
- それら
- sorera — Those; referring to multiple previously mentioned things.
- 起源
- kigen — Origin; source; the beginning point of something.
- 関わる
- kakawaru — To be related to; to involve or concern something.
- 種類
- shurui — Type; kind; category of similar things grouped together.
- 異なる
- kotonaru — To differ; to be different from something else.
- 決して
- kesshite — Never; by no means; used with negative verbs.
- 根拠
- konkyo — Basis; grounds; foundation for a claim or belief.
- 確信
- kakushin — Conviction; firm belief; strong confidence in something.
- 得
- e — Can obtain; able to achieve or gain something.
- また
- mata — Also; again; furthermore; introducing an additional point.
- 地質学
- chishitsugaku — Geology; science studying Earth's physical structure and history.
- 限界
- genkai — Limit; boundary; the furthest extent of something.
- 超え
- koe — Exceeding; going beyond a limit or boundary.
- 経緯
- keii — Circumstances; background details of how something developed.
- 遡る
- sakanoboru — To trace back; to go back in time historically.
- 何百万年
- nanhyakuman-nen — Millions of years; an enormously long time span.
- も
- mo — Also; even; as many as; inclusive particle.
- 昔
- mukashi — Long ago; ancient times; the distant past.
- 水
- mizu — Water; the liquid essential for life and nature.
- 熱
- netsu — Heat; thermal energy; also refers to fever.
- 重力
- jūryoku — Gravity; the force attracting objects toward Earth.
- 摩擦
- masatsu — Friction; resistance between surfaces in contact or conflict.
- 動物
- dōbutsu — Animal; a living creature other than a plant.
- および
- oyobi — And; as well as; formal connective between items.
- 植物
- shokubutsu — Plant; vegetation; living organisms that photosynthesize.
- 生命
- seimei — Life; living existence; vitality of a living being.
- 引き起こす
- hikiokosu — To cause; to bring about; to trigger an event.
- 同種
- dōshu — Same kind; same species; identical category of things.
- 引き起こし
- hikiokoshi — Causing; having triggered; conjunctive form of provoke.
- 何
- nani — What; something; used in questions or vague reference.
- 語る
- kataru — To speak; to narrate; to tell a story.
- でき
- deki — Can do; able to; stem of potential verb.
- いや
- iya — No; or rather; used to correct or reconsider.
- 自然
- shizen — Nature; the natural world; also means 'natural'.
- 天文学
- tenmongaku — Astronomy; science studying celestial bodies and universe.
- さえ
- sae — Even; as long as; emphatic particle adding extremity.
- 的
- teki — Suffix meaning '-ic' or '-like'; adjectival suffix.
- 科学
- kagaku — Science; systematic study of the natural world.
- 到達
- tōtatsu — Reaching; attaining; arriving at a goal or point.
- 時間
- jikan — Time; duration; a period or amount of time.
- 究極
- kyūkyoku — Ultimate; extreme; the final or most fundamental level.
- まで
- made — Until; up to; as far as a certain point.
- 連れ戻す
- tsuremoDosu — To bring back; to return someone to a place.
- 限り
- kagiri — As long as; to the extent of; limit.
- 同じ
- onaji — Same; identical; not different from another thing.
- 上
- ue — Above; on top; also means 'based on' contextually.
- 成り立っ
- naritatts(u) — To be established; to hold true; to be valid.
- いる
- iru — To exist; to be (for animate beings).
- 法則
- hōsoku — Law; rule; a principle governing natural phenomena.
- 時代
- jidai — Era; age; a distinct historical period of time.
- わずか
- wazuka — Only; merely; a very small or slight amount.
- 程度
- teido — Degree; extent; level or amount of something.
- あれ
- are — That (over there); or imperative of 'aru'.
- 真実
- shinjitsu — Truth; reality; what is genuinely true or factual.
- なかっ
- nakatts(u) — Past negative form; was not; did not exist.
- 天文学者
- tenmongakusha — Astronomer; a scientist who studies celestial phenomena.
- 計算
- keisan — Calculation; computation; working out numerical results.
- 適用
- tekiyō — Application; applying a rule or method to something.
- 余地
- yochi — Room; margin; space or leeway for something more.
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