Question

Read the excerpt from Annus Mirabilis by John Dryden. What viewpoint does the excerpt reflect?

Answer 1

1) The viewpoint the excerpt is reflecting is A) It is hard for humans to evaluate events in terms of potential outcomes.

In my opinion, what the author is trying to say is that humans are not able to see what 'heaven' knows

Heaven, in his bosom, from our knowledge hides

We are incapable of disntinguishing the good from the bad

The undistinguish'd seeds of good and ill,

And often, we can be confused and believe that our enemies are our friends

Which oft for friends mistaken foes provides.

Then, 'heaven' who could be interpret as the universe, or even God itself, thinks that our skills or abilities to understand the world around as, are completely useless compared to their knowledge.  

And draws them in contempt of human skill

Therefore, the excerpt is reflecting that we, as humans do not have the ability to see what stands in front of us, we cannot know what is going to happen to us, because we do not have the absolute power and control of time and space that the universe has over all the living and even not living things that exist under its dominion.