# Editor's Note explained — The Religion of Nature Delineated

> Chapter companion for The Religion of Nature Delineated by William Wollaston.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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