2019-02-07

6

Hence it is that, whatever force my reasonings may possess, yet because they belong to philosophy, I do not expect they will have much effect on the minds of men, unless you extend to them your patronage and approval. But since your Faculty is held in so great esteem by all, and since the name of SORBONNE is of such authority, that not only in matters of faith, but even also in what regards human philosophy, has the judgement of no other society, after the Sacred Councils, received so great deference, it being the universal conviction that it is impossible elsewhere to find greater perspicacity and solidity, or greater wisdom and integrity in giving judgement, I doubt not, if you but condescend to pay so much regard to this Treatise as to be willing, in the first place, to correct it ( for mindful not only of my humanity, but chiefly also of my ignorance, I do not affirm that it is free from errors ); in the second place, to supply what is wanting in it, to perfect what is incomplete, and to give more ample illustration where it is demanded, or at least to indicate these defects to myself that I may endeavor to remedy them; and, finally, when the reasonings contained in it, by which the existence of God and the distinction of the human soul from the body are established, shall have been brought to such degree of perspicuity as to be esteemed exact demonstrations, of which I am assured they admit, if you condescend to accord them the authority of your approbation, and render a public testimony of their truth and certainty, I doubt not, I say, but that henceforward all the errors which have ever been entertained on these questions will very soon be effaced from the minds of men. For truth itself will readily lead the remainder of the ingenious and the learned to subscribe to your judgement; and your authority will cause the atheist , who are in general sciolists rather than ingenious or learned, to lay aside the spirit of contradiction, and lead them, perhaps, to do battle in their own persons for reasonings which they find considered demonstrations by all men of genius, lest they should seem not to understand them; and, finally, the rest if mankind will readily trust to so many testimonies; and there will no longer be any one who will venture to doubt either the existence of God or the real distinction of mind and body. It is for you, in your singular wisdom, to judge of the importance of the establishment of such beliefs, who are cognisant of the discorders which doubt of these truths produces. But it would not here become me to commend at greater length the cause of God and of religion to you, who have always proved the strongest support of the Catholic Church.

因此，无论我的论断的说服力有多大，如果你们不对它予以赞同与认同，它就无法在人们心中产生多大的影响。因为你们学院受到的尊敬是如此之多，而巴黎神学院的名字又如雷贯耳，以致于不仅在信仰上，更是在人类哲学上，自从神圣的宗教会议后没有别的教会的判断受到如此多的尊重与赞同、被人们普遍地信服，说不可能再在别处找到更加完整、有力、睿智的判断了，因此我毫不怀疑，如果你们乐意屈尊对这篇文章进行细致的考虑，并首先去修订它（我对我的无知和疏忽是警觉的，我不能确定这其中已经没有任何错误）；其次，去提供它所需的，去完善那些还不完善的，至少在必要时给出更多的说明，指出书中的瑕疵好让我能尽力去修补它；直至其中包含的推理（有关上帝的存在和灵魂相对于肉体的特殊性）被无比清晰且准确地建立。如果你们不吝赋予这本书被你们所认可的权力，并公开向世人声明它的正确性，我确信他们会对此信服，并且，我毫不怀疑，从今以后对这两个问题所有的无理取笑，都会很快在人们的脑海中消失。因为真理自身会让那些博学多才的有识之士接受你们的判断；而你们的权威会让那些平庸的无神论者们放下对此的抵触，并可能使他们转而与同类对抗，因为他们发现这些论证被所有的智者所推崇所尊重，生怕他们自己看上去好像对此一无所知，最后其余人们也会乐意去接受这些论证，并对上帝的存在和灵魂的独特性深信不疑。你们一定知道怀疑真理造成了何等混乱，也知道信仰的重要性，所以请用你们非凡的智慧去下判断，去建立信仰。不过我不会在此长篇大论为你们介绍上帝以及宗教，因为天主教会一直是于此的中流砥柱，这倒显得我班门弄斧了。