| 1 |
Neki sofisti misle da je postojanje iluzija; da je svako biće apsolutna iluzija koja nema postojanja – drugim riječima, da je postojanje bića tlapnja ili da je poput odraza u vodi ili u zrcalu, koji je samo pojava koja u sebi nema principa, temelja ili realnosti. |
Certain sophists think that existence is an illusion, that each being is an absolute illusion which has no existence—in other words, that the existence of beings is like a mirage, or like the reflection of an image in water or in a mirror, which is only an appearance having in itself no principle, foundation or reality. |
| 2 |
Ta je teorija pogrešna; jer iako je postojanje bića naspram postojanja Boga iluzija, ipak, stanje bića ima stvarno i određeno postojanje. Ne vrijedi to pobijati. Na primjer, postojanje minerala u usporedbi s postojanjem čovjeka jest nepostojanje, jer čovjek očito biva uništen, njegovo tijelo postaje mineral; no mineral ima postojanje u svijetu minerala. Stoga, jasno je da zemlja, u odnosu na postojanje čovjeka, ne postoji i da je njezino postojanje iluzorno; no u odnosu na mineral ona postoji. |
This theory is erroneous; for though the existence of beings in relation to the existence of God is an illusion, nevertheless, in the condition of being it has a real and certain existence. It is futile to deny this. For example, the existence of the mineral in comparison with that of man is nonexistence, for when man is apparently annihilated, his body becomes mineral; but the mineral has existence in the mineral world. Therefore, it is evident that earth, in relation to the existence of man, is nonexistent, and its existence is illusory; but in relation to the mineral it exists. |
| 3 |
Na isti način postojanje bića u usporedbi s postojanem Boga nije drugo doli iluzija i ništavilo; to je samo pojava, poput slike odražene u zrcalu. Ali premda je slika koja se vidi u zrcalu privid, izvor i stvarnost te prividne slike je osoba čiji je to odraz, čije se lice kao slika pojavljuje u zrcalu. Ukratko, odraz je u odnosu na osobu čija je slika u zrcalu, privid. |
In the same manner the existence of beings in comparison with the existence of God is but illusion and nothingness; it is an appearance, like the image reflected in a mirror. But though an image which is seen in a mirror is an illusion, the source and the reality of that illusory image is the person reflected, whose face appears in the mirror. Briefly, the reflection in relation to the person reflected is an illusion. |
| 4 |
Stoga je jasno da bića, iako u odnosu na postojanje Boga nemaju postojanja, već su poput tlapnje ili odraza u zrcalu, ipak postoje na nekom vlastitom stupnju. |
Then it is evident that although beings in relation to the existence of God have no existence, but are like the mirage or the reflections in the mirror, yet in their own degree they exist. |
| 5 |
Zato je za one koji su bili nemarni i zanijekali Boga Krist rekao da su mrtvi, premda su očito bili živi; u odnosu na ljude koji vjeruju oni su bili mrtvi, gluhi i nijemi. Na to je Krist mislio kad je rekao: “… pusti mrtve nek’ ukopavaju svoje mrtvace.”163 |
That is why those who were heedless and denied God were said by Christ to be dead, although they were apparently living; in relation to the people of faith they were dead, blind, deaf and dumb. This is what Christ meant when He said, “Let the dead bury their dead.”163 |
