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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §4.2.2.pr

Paulus' Definition of Force as Irresistible Power

Passage 639 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus' definition of "force" (uis) is presented, defining it as an irresistible onset of a superior power.

[PAULUS libro primo sententiarum. ] §4.2.2.prUis autem est maioris rei impetus, qui repelli non potest.
[PAULUS, Opinions, book 1], moreover, is the onset of a stronger force which cannot be repelled.

Notes

  1. §4.2.2.prmaioris rei — The noun res (thing, matter) here abstractly denotes "force" or "power," and combined with the comparative maioris, it refers to a "superior power" that overcomes resistance.
  2. §4.2.2.prqui repelli non potest — The antecedent of the relative pronoun qui (masculine singular nominative) is the masculine noun impetus, not the subject of the sentence uis (feminine) nor the preceding rei (feminine).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §4.2.2.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:4.2.2.pr

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