The Religion of Nature Delineated · Chapter
Editor's Note explained
The editor explains the process of expanding and clarifying Wollaston's obscure source references, particularly with help from Alexander Altmann in identifying Hebrew sources.
What happens
The editor explains the process of expanding and clarifying Wollaston's obscure source references, particularly with help from Alexander Altmann in identifying Hebrew sources. The note also describes modernizations made to the text, including spelling, punctuation, and the addition of hyperlinks.
Themes in this chapter
Free Will and Moral Responsibility
The expanded footnote includes Maimonides and Isaac Abravanel on free will and the power given to every man to choose the good.
Characters to notice
- Alexander Altmann
Identified many of the Hebrew sources in a 1948 paper.
- Cicero
Quoted in a footnote: 'Where is virtue then, if there be nothing within our own power?'
- Maimonides
Quoted from Mishneh Torah, Hilkot Teshubah, V, 1, 3.
- Isaac Abravanel
Quoted from Nahalot Abot regarding free will.
- Diogenes Laërtius
Referenced for the word 'Blitri' in the Life of Zeno.
- Zeno of Citium
Mentioned in the context of Diogenes Laërtius's Life of Zeno.
Key passages
“Ubi virtus, si nihil situm est in ipsis nobis? Cic.”
Where is virtue then, if there be nothing within our own power? (Cicero, Academica)
The editor expands an obscure Latin citation to include the source and a translation.
“הוא עמוד התורה והמצוה … רשות לכל אדם נתונה אם רצה להטות עצמו לדרך טובה Maim.”
There is a power given to every man, if he be but willing to incline himself to the way that is good … This is the support of the law and the commandments. (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilkot Teshubah, V, 1, 3)
The editor expands a Hebrew citation from Maimonides with a translation and source.
“הרשות היא הבחירה”
This power is what we call free will (Isaac Abravanel, Nahalot Abot)
The editor expands a brief Hebrew phrase with a translation and attribution.
“As that Βλιτρι ap. Diog. L. in v. Zen.”
As that word Βλιτρι (Blitri) in Diogenes Laërtius's Life of Zeno, which word has no meaning at all.
The editor clarifies an obscure Greek reference to a meaningless word.