Deus ex māchinā

Deus ex māchinā

 
'God from a machine'

(the typical translation of deus ex māchinā)

sounds like the solipsistic dream

of many a technophile –

and looking around our modern world

humanity has achieved,

metaphorically,

God-like capabilities

through the use of machines …

so that trope probably has its place.

In the 21st Century CE,

however,

it may be timely

to be a little more sophisticated –

even when it comes to translation.

Our ‘ways’ and ‘means’ (μηχᾰναί [mēkhanaí]) –

a scheme, plan or machination (māchinā) –

matter,

as does our intent …

whether it be

to be beautiful and surpass excellence (deus [or θεός {theós}])

or otherwise.

Such may well be a timeless reflection –

perhaps one even touched upon by Seneca

(a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome,

a statesman, a dramatist and –

in one work –

a satirist)

in a portion of his correspondence to Lucilius

that may be read as follows.

          You do a thing best –

          even if it is healthful or advantageous to you …

          supposing that,

          just as you write,

          you abide by and adhere to advancing

          towards good, honest, brave, noble, kind and pleasant

          reason, judgement, conscience, disposition or intention.

          As far as foolishness, fatuousness or stupidity

          is also chosen or desired,

          you may be able …

          from you

          you accomplish and succeed.

          Nothing in favour or against

          ‘Heaven’, the weather or a chisel

          enlightens or alleviates

          hands, bravery, violence, multitudes or good

          nor persuades the keeper of a temple or priest …

          just as us for or against golden effigies

          (or the appearance of a ‘Golden Age’) –

          somewhat more –

          perceive ‘I am able to allow or perpetrate’:

          nearly or better exists from you

          (excellence or eminence exists with you

          [it exists inside]).

          That I deify, Lucilius:

          the sacred within –

          our breaths, minds, energy, courage and pride

          establish, assuage, abide and end.

          Unpleasantries, distresses, evils, abuses,

          hostilities, ill-fortunes or incapacities

          and honours, esteem, dignities and reputations

          ours keep watch over and pay attention to –

          even if a protector, tutor, jailer or custodian.

Achieving the superhuman through planning –

deus ex māchinā –

relies,

of course,

on purposeful intent

to achieve the best

in every emerging moment …

and we can persue 的 (dì) –

the aim, the standard, the criterion, clarity, bindu, truth or reality –

without the use of machines

in everyday life

just by making that goal our plan

(such is the ideal way to proceed,

which might otherwise be called

道 [the Dào], the Mārga, Λόγος [the Lógos], the Word or commonsense).

Anything less is really below us –

and the īnfrā hūmānus

(that which is less than human, humane, culture or refined)

can have a range of unpleasant effects

including the mundane, purgatorial and evil …

that is something we must surely know by now,

even if we are ignorant

of some readings of deus ex māchinā.