登陆注册
15325700000022

第22章

It is the foundation- the very A, B, C, of our whole moral philosophy."Glad to see him come to the point to which I had been drawing him on, Iexpressed my satisfaction and requested him to explain what was meant by a probable opinion? "That," he replied, "our authors will answer better than I can do.The generality of them, and, among others, our four-and-twenty elders, describe it thus: 'An opinion is called probable when it is founded upon reasons of some consideration.Hence it may sometimes happen that a single very grave doctor may render an opinion probable.' The reason is added: 'For a man particularly given to study would not adhere to an opinion unless he was drawn to it by a good and sufficient reason.'" "So it would appear," I observed, with a smile, "that a single doctor may turn consciences round about and upside down as he pleases, and yet always land them in a safe position." "You must not laugh at it, sir," returned the monk; "nor need you attempt to combat the doctrine.The Jansenists tried this; but they might have saved themselves the trouble- it is too firmly established.Hear Sanchez, one of the most famous of our fathers: 'You may doubt, perhaps, whether the authority of a single good and learned doctor renders an opinion probable.I answer that it does; and this is confirmed by Angelus, Sylvester, Navarre, Emanuel Sa, &c.It is proved thus: A probable opinion is one that has a considerable foundation.Now the authority of a learned and pious man is entitled to very great consideration;because (mark the reason), if the testimony of such a man has great influence in convincing us that such and such an event occurred, say at Rome, for example, why should it not have the same weight in the case of a question in morals?'" "An odd comparison this," interrupted I, "between the concerns of the world and those of conscience!" "Have a little patience," rejoined the monk; "Sanchez answers that in the very next sentence: 'Nor can I assent to the qualification made here by some writers, namely, that the authority of such a doctor, though sufficient in matters of human right, is not so in those of divine right.It is of vast weight in both cases.'" "Well, father," said I, frankly, "I really cannot admire that rule.Who can assure me, considering the freedom your doctors claim to examine everything by reason, that what appears safe to one may seem so to all the rest? The diversity of judgements is so great"- "You don't understand it," said he, interrupting me; "no doubt they are often of different sentiments, but what signifies that? Each renders his own opinion probable and safe.We all know well enough that they are far from being of the same mind; what is more, there is hardly an instance in which they ever agree.There are very few questions, indeed, in which you do not find the one saying yes and the other saying no.Still, in all these cases, each of the contrary opinions is probable.And hence Diana says on a certain subject: 'Ponce and Sanchez hold opposite views of it; but, as they are both learned men, each renders his own opinion probable.'" "But, father," I remarked, "a person must be sadly embarrassed in choosing between them!" "Not at all,"he rejoined; "he has only to follow the opinion which suits him best.""What! if the other is more probable?" "It does not signify," "And if the other is the safer?" "It does not signify," repeated the monk; "this is made quite plain by Emanuel Sa, of our Society, in his Aphorisms: 'A person may do what he considers allowable according to a probable opinion, though the contrary may be the safer one.The opinion of a single grave doctor is all that is requisite.'" "And if an opinion be at once the less probable and the less safe, it is allowable to follow it," I asked, "even in the way of rejecting one which we believe to be more probable and safe?" "Once more, I say yes," replied the monk."Hear what Filiutius, that great Jesuit of Rome, says: 'It is allowable to follow the less probable opinion, even though it be the less safe one.That is the common judgement of modern authors.' Is not that quite clear?" "Well, reverend father," said I, "you have given us elbowroom, at all events! Thanks to your probable opinions, we have got liberty of conscience with a witness! And are you casuists allowed the same latitude in giving your responses?" "Oh, yes," said he, "we answer just as we please; or rather, I should say, just as it may please those who ask our advice.Here are our rules, taken from Fathers Layman, Vasquez, Sanchez, and the four-and-twenty worthies, in the words of Layman:

'A doctor, on being consulted, may give an advice, not only probable according to his own opinion, but contrary to his own opinion, provided this judgement happens to be more favourable or more agreeable to the person that consults him- si forte haec favorabilior seu exoptatior sit.Nay, I go further and say that there would be nothing unreasonable in his giving those who consult him a judgement held to be probable by some learned person, even though he should be satisfied in his own mind that it is absolutely false.'" "Well, seriously, father," I said, "your doctrine is a most uncommonly comfortable one! Only think of being allowed to answer yes or no, just as you please!

同类推荐
  • 名臣碑传琬琰集

    名臣碑传琬琰集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北京五大部直音会韵

    北京五大部直音会韵

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 杨子法言

    杨子法言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 续碑传选集

    续碑传选集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Ivanoff

    Ivanoff

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 墨黎无泣

    墨黎无泣

    但往日的辉煌消失殆尽,再也找不回过往的回忆,是颓废,或者在孤独流泪,不,我还有梦
  • 尘梦殇

    尘梦殇

    三个人因为各自不同的原因走到了一起,反目,还是联手?入梦间,追欲,逐势。繁华空梦,为爱,为义,为情。谁戏我红颜?杀!杀他个浮尸千里!谁挡我兄弟?灭!灭他个天崩地裂!谁泯我性情?笑!笑他个神惊鬼惧!梦醒处,如幻,似空。梦之殇,心之惘。
  • 灵偶情缘

    灵偶情缘

    新婚那天,当我穿着洁白的婚纱站在我未来丈夫的面前时,抬头发现,穿着新郎礼服的,竟然是一具四肢僵硬的木偶!尽管这木偶长得很好看,尽管他很温柔,可是我真的不想和一具木偶生活一辈子。身边与我有过仇怨的人一个个离奇的死亡,就连离我家不远的那个动物园里的动物,也都以一种诡异的方式死去。而各种线索的发现,警方找到了我,要我配合调查……。
  • 异世奇缘:帝尊的逃婚新娘

    异世奇缘:帝尊的逃婚新娘

    她,本是21世纪精英杀手。执行任务时杀死的男子忽然诈尸,浑身散发金光,穿越成了丞相府的嫡长女。他,大陆最高掌权者。传言他冷酷无情,外貌如九天神祇,性格如地狱来的撒旦。意外遇见她,百般厌烦,最后却中了她的蛊。强者降临,引起大陆时空崩裂,无数强大魔兽逃出。强者陨落之际留下预言,将由神尊与神女拯救这片大陆。穿梭时空,冥冥之中他们相遇。神尊神女,天命所在。待我长发及腰,少年娶我可好?此身君子意逍遥,怎料山河萧萧。天光乍破遇,暮雪白头老。寒剑默听奔雷,长枪独守空壕。醉卧沙场君莫笑,一夜吹彻画角。江南晚来客,红绳结发梢。她的穿越,他的出现。是天意,还是人意?
  • 神奇的百科全书

    神奇的百科全书

    一番话改变一生,一本书改变世界,中学生张羽机缘巧合下获得一本百科全书,从此,穷屌丝摇身变成高富帅,开启了他的逆袭新生,金钱,美女,豪车,名宅,张羽怎么也想不到自从获得不一样的百科全书后,他的人生,竟然开始无限的接近他之前想都没想过的东西。
  • 绝世心帝

    绝世心帝

    世界进入新格局,为了生存,人类重新走上了修行的道路,心灵力量将会焕发怎样的光彩?一个基地市中的少年,归心吐纳,寻找到属于自己的心道,展开了传奇的一生!*******(乱入日漫纯属巧合!!!!!)
  • 泣血伐天

    泣血伐天

    步步惊心,成长于大山之内,热血无敌,崛起于草莽之间,且看主角张天行如何从山村中步步崛起,横推众敌,一步步接触千万纪元隐秘。天道的尽头,修道的真相,伐天之路漫漫,但我张天行一力扛起,责无旁贷!
  • 69条建言与忠告

    69条建言与忠告

    本书作者以独特的视角审视国有企业的改革与发展,将自己的实践与近年来的观察、思考、体味与感悟总结和提炼出来,涵盖了企业选人用人、企业发展战略、经营理念、企业决策等诸多方面的内容,难能可贵,具有较好的参考性和警示性,相信广大读者看后能有所收获、有所启发。需要说明的是,企业领导人中,既有董事长,又有党委书记和总经理;既有国有企业的领导人,又有民营和合资企业的领导人。由于岗位、职责与企业性质的不同,他们思考和关注的重点不会相。《69条建言与忠告》涉及面较广,每一位企业领导人都应该取其所用、弃其不适,努力把自己的角色扮演好。
  • 千邪传

    千邪传

    一代至尊天骄,意外陨落,一块神秘的玉佩,带着一缕残魂转世重生,且看一代天骄如何踏出一条逆天之路,与天争,与人斗,重塑无敌路,屹立武道巅峰。
  • 气溅凌霄

    气溅凌霄

    这是血气喷张的世界,腐烂不堪万丈深渊,但只要你不断向前,你会看到新的世界。功名荣华不过是浮云,得气上道乃为不破,终为圣。气法林立,争强斗胜,万法归宗,汇为一气,方是最高境界。可与日月同辉,长生不灭。