Πίστις
trust, belief, faith
Translated by Marcelo Boeri2 Nov 2000Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
To account for belief as a 'strength1 of supposition' is a mistake, for in defining thus one takes the strength as being a genus, and the supposition as being a difference. However, what occurs is the opposite; in fact, since supposition is a genus, strength is a difference. For among suppositions, some are strong, others moderate.2 These are differences belonging to suppositions, and belief is a strong supposition.3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Πίστις· ὅτι ἁμάρτημά ἐστι τὸ τὴν πίστιν ἀποδοῦναι σφοδρότητα ὑπολήψεως. καὶ γὰρ οὕτως ὁριζόμενος γένος μὲν λαμβάνει τὴν σφοδρότητα, διαφορὰν δὲ τὴν ὑπόληψιν· ἔχει δὲ ἔμπαλιν· τῆς γὰρ ὑπολήψεως γένους οὔσης, ἡ σφοδρότης ἐστὶ διαφορά· τῶν γὰρ ὑπολήψεων αἱ μέν εἰσι σφοδραί, αἱ δὲ μέτριαι· αὗται γὰρ ὑπολήψεων διαφοραί. καὶ ἔστιν ἡ πίστις ὑπόληψις σφοδρά.
Betacode
*pi/stis: o(/ti a(ma/rthma/ e)sti to\ th\n pi/stin a)podou=nai sfodro/thta u(polh/yews. kai\ ga\r ou(/tws o(rizo/menos ge/nos me\n lamba/nei th\n sfodro/thta, diafora\n de\ th\n u(po/lhyin: e)/xei de\ e)/mpalin: th=s ga\r u(polh/yews ge/nous ou)/shs, h( sfodro/ths e)sti\ diafora/: tw=n ga\r u(polh/yewn ai( me/n ei)si sfodrai/, ai( de\ me/triai: au(=tai ga\r u(polh/yewn diaforai/. kai\ e)/stin h( pi/stis u(po/lhyis sfodra/.
Notes (3)
- Alexander of Aphrodisias, Commentary on Aristotle's Topica 351.12-17; cf. already under pi 1648. The present passage reproduces (with some minor variations) Aristotle, Topica 126b13-19, where it is emphasized that people usually confuse genus as difference and difference as genus.
- 1The Greek word sphodrotes actually means 'vehemence', but in the context 'strength' looks like a better choice in order to allow the parallel with 'strong' (sphodrai), said of suppositions. ↩
- 2That is to say, some suppositions (hypolepseis) are strong, others weak. ↩
- 3This definition is Aristotle's: see Topica 126b18; in the Aristotelian use hypolepsis generally means 'apprehension', 'belief' or 'judgement' (cf. Nicomachean Ethics 1142b33; Metaphysics 981b6-7) rather than 'supposition'. See also upsilon 537. ↩
Linked from2 entries
- π1648Πίστιςtrust, belief, faith[Meaning] a hope of an uncertain matter. Those who say that supposition is a kind of belief make a mistake. For supposition follows upon belief; for belief is a supposition, since it is impossible that belief comes into…
- π1650Περὶ πίστεωςon faithWe define the only true and pureest faith to be that in in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the one divinity and authority, creator of all visible as well as invisible things, and the ruler of all manifested…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history5 revisions · last 4 Oct 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- cosmetics, cross-reference — Catharine Roth
- tweaks — Catharine Roth
- cosmetics — Catharine Roth
- added x-ref; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Marcelo Boeri