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E1D7

Definition — Part I

Latin

Ea res libera dicitur quæ ex sola suæ naturæ necessitate existit et a se sola ad agendum determinatur. Necessaria autem vel potius coacta quæ ab alio determinatur ad existendum et operandum certa ac determinata ratione.

English (Elwes 1883)

That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone. On the other hand, that thing is necessary, or rather constrained, which is determined by something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of existence or action.

Modern English

A thing is called free when it exists from the necessity of its own nature alone, and is determined to act by itself alone. A thing is called necessary, or rather, coerced, when it is determined by something else to exist and to act in a fixed and determinate manner.

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Definitions