Note 68 — Chapter XXIII · THE NEW ACADEMY.
Oswald J. (Oswald Joseph) Reichel translation
Divination, to which the Stoics attached especial importance,68 was vigorously assailed. Carneades proved that no peculiar range of subjects belonged thereto, but that in all cases which admit professional judgment experts pass a better judgment than diviners.69 To know accidental events beforehand is impossible; it is useless to know those that are necessary and unavoidable, nay, more, it would even be harmful.70 No causal connection can be conceived of between a prophecy and the ensuing realisation.71 If the Stoics met him by pointing to fulfilled prophecies, he replied that the coincidence was accidental,72 at the same time declaring many such stories to be without doubt false.73