Philosophical translation is the life blood of philosophy. Throughout its history, philosophy has depended on translations in transmitting ideas across languages and cultures, in stimulating its development, and in reviving forgotten thinkers or traditions. Philosophical translation makes texts available to wider audiences, deepens our understanding of those texts, and enriches the languages into which the texts are translated and the conceptual resources on which we draw in thinking. Yet philosophical translation has been insufficiently appreciated by philosophers, especially by philosophers in the English-speaking world who assume that philosophical texts can be readily translated into English and that no philosophical skills or knowledge are required to translate such texts.
In this Hauptseminar we will explore the philosophical issues raised by translation, especially the translation of philosophical texts, by considering some of the classic texts (often in both the original and in translation) and exploring some detailed case studies of translated passages with relevant translator’s notes, where appropriate. We will encourage maximum involvement by participants, with open slots in the schedule to allow participants to lead the discussion on their own choice of a short text.
Prof. Michael Beaney and Dr Yael Gazit- Kursverantwortliche/r: Prof. Dr. Michael Beaney