来自《耶鲁大学开放课程—哲学：死亡 第9集 第9集》

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  And I might have a pencil, and the pencil is whole.
  我可以有一支铅笔 它是完好的
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  And I never break it, but I could've broken it.
  我从未把它折断 但我本可以折断它
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  That's a contingent property,
  这就是一种偶然属性
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  whether the pencil is whole or broken.
  无论这铅笔是完好的还是折断的
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  I take a piece of metal;
  我拿起一片金属
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  it's a contingent property whether it's straight or bent.
  它是直的还是弯的 这也是偶然属性
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  I bend it; now it's bent.
  我折了 它就变弯了
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  I might straighten it back out;
  我也可以把它掰直
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  now it's straight.
  它就变直了
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  Many, many properties are contingent properties.
  很多很多情况都是偶然性的
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  You're happy, you're sad,
  你高兴还是悲伤
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  you're awake, you're asleep.
  你是醒着还是睡了