Guilty As Charged By Aristotle and Aquinas: PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 91 - 114

Beatrice launches into a subpoint about free will, one derived from her larger discussion of culpability.

In this passage, she refines exactly why Piccarda and Constance are charged with breaking their vows in the sphere of the moon: They may have wanted to keep their vows, but that wanting doesn't negate their actions.

The segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:33] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 91 - 114. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment on this episode, please find its entry on my website, markscarbrough.com.

[04:07] My translated lines violate the incredible concision of Dante's Florentine poetry.

[06:36] The central problem: Can there be dissension among those in heaven?

[10:58] The notion of a first truth presumes second and third truths--and what are those?

[14:05] Beatrice offers an argument about the absolute will and the conditional will that is almost plagiarized from Aristotle and Aquinas.

[23:02] Beatrice and Dante the poet hold their orthodox fence firm.

[29:07] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto IV, lines 91 - 114.

My English translation of PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 91 - 114:

[Beatrice continued,] “But you now find another footstep

In front of your eyes. It’s such that you can’t even get over it

On your own without leaving yourself exhausted.

“I’ve securely planted in your mind

That a blessed soul cannot tell a lie,

Because [that soul] is always close to the first truth.

“But then you heard Piccarda say

That Constance held onto her affection for the veil,

So that she seems to contradict me in this.

“Many times, brother, it’s happened

That when you flee danger,

You do a thing that shouldn’t be done, against your own preference;

“As Alcmaeon who, begged by his father,

Killed his own mother—he was made impious

So as not to fail in piety.

“On this point, I would ask you to consider

That force gets so mixed with the will

That these offences cannot be excused.

“And absolute will doesn’t consent to the damage,

But the will does consent, based on its fears,

To fall into more trouble even as it pulls back.

“Therefore, Piccarda speaks of the supreme will

In what she affirms, while I’m speaking of

The other. In other words, we both speak the truth together.”