3. The seventh Proof

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The seventh proof

In the first chapter Woland, Ivan and Berlioz were discussing the five proofs of the existence of God. The catholic philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) formulated five proofs or arguments of the existence of God in his Summa Theologiae (1265-1274).

1. The argument of the unmoved mover (ex motu). Aquinas said that things move, so something or someone - an unmoved mover from whom all motion proceeds - must therefore exist.

2. The argument of the first cause (ex causa). Some things are caused by something or someone else. Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause of all caused things.

3. The argument of contingency (ex contingentia). Many things in the universe may either exist or not exist. Such things are called contingent beings. But it is impossible for everything in the universe to be contingent, therefore there must be a necessary being whose existence is not contingent.

4. The argument of degree (ex gradu). Various perfections may be found in varying degrees throughout the universe, which assumes the existence of the perfections themselves

5. The argument of design (ex fine). All designed things have a designer. The universe is designed. Therefore, the universe has a designer.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the German idealist philosopher, added a sixth argument to it, though Woland doesn't seem to like it much: "he fashioned his own sixth proof as if in ridicule of himself".

Kant's proof was called the argument of the moral order. Kant said that we are rationally obliged to attain the summum bonum. And what we are obliged to attain, must be possible for us to attain. If there is no God or afterlife, it is not possible to attain the summum bonum, so God or the afterlife must exist.

In this chapter Woland asserts the existence of yet a seventh proof, which is demonstrated to Berlioz minutes later when he is decapitated by a streetcar - "At least believe that the devil exists! I no longer ask you for anything more. Mind you, there exists a seventh proof of it, the surest of all! And it is going to be presented to you right now!"

And a couple of minutes later Berlioz notices that Woland is right. The seventh proof could be called the experiential proof. Because Berlioz experiences that the devil exists, by which the seventh proof of God’s existence is given.

It may be worth to mention that Bulgakov's close friend, the philosopher and literary critic Pavel Sergeevich Popov (1892-1964), was absorbed by the problem of the proofs of the existence of God.

Hotel Metropole

The Metropol hotel - no "e" at the end - was built between 1899-1903 by William Walcott (1874-1943). This posh art-nouveau hotel has 400 rooms and suites and it is decorated with mosaics by the artist Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910). The Metropol has been the site of many historic events, including speeches by Lenin and the 1918-1919 meetings of the Central Committee of the Russian Republic. It became one of the hotels specially designated for foreigners. It is still one of the most luxurious hotels in Moscow.

Click here to see how the hotel presents itself today.

Secrecy

"I was personally present at it all. I was on Pontius Pilate's balcony, and in the garden when he talked with Kaifa, and on the platform, only secretly, incognito, so to speak, and therefore I beg you - not a word to anyone, total secrecy, shh...'

With these words Woland suggests already that he's the devil. In the previous chapter, where the meeting between Pilate and Kaifa is described, was mentioned that Pilate wanted to "speak with the president previously and alone". Without - mortal - witnesses.

There isn't any

"... no matter what one asks for, there isn't any!" Woland says, shaking with laughter, when Ivan says that there isn't any devil. This quote became very popular in Russia after the publication of The Master and Margarita. The Soviet citizens considered it as a comment on the shortage of goods in the shops.

Koroviev

Click here for a comprehensive description of the Koroviev/Fagot character

Your uncle in Kiev

"Would you like me to have a telegram sent at once to your uncle in Kiev?" Woland calls out to Berlioz when he runs away. Berlioz winces, because how does the madman know about the existence of a Kievan uncle? And indeed, in chapter 18 he shows up after having received a telegram from Moscow.

The tramway

The tram-car that will decapitate Berlioz came racing along, turning down the "newly laid line from Yermolaevsky to Bronnaya". Bulgakov needed to mention that the line was "newly" laid, because most historians agree that there was no tramway at that place. But the influence of Bulgakov's novel has resulted in many Muscovites "recalling" such a line.

Crimson armband

According to the translators Pevear and Volokhonsky, Berlioz makes out the crimson armband of the woman driver. But this translation is not accurate. Bulgakov described her алая повязка or scarlet scarf or necktie. Glenny and the Dutch translators got it right. They described the driver's red necktie

This necktie proves once more that Woland's prediction was very accurate, since such necktie was the sign that the woman driver was a member of Komsomol.



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