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Glossary entry

Swedish term or phrase:

partikulärt giltiga

English translation:

valid only based on a particular ethical value or attitude

Added to glossary by Paul Lambert
Apr 18, 2011 13:10
13 yrs ago
Swedish term

partikulärt giltiga

Swedish to English Social Sciences Philosophy Philosophy of law
Sentence given:
"Sammantaget noterar jag, att om en konkretisering av det globala ethos skulle inskränka sig till den nyare praktiska filosofins plan, så skulle man enligt Küng knappt nå utöver generaliseringar och pragmatiska modeller, vars motiveringar vore ”transcendentala”, utilitaristiska eller enbart regionalistiska dvs. partikulärt giltiga."

I have considered "valid in isolation" but have been told I am off the mark.
Proposed translations (English)
3 valid only based on a particular ethical value or attitude
2 +1 particularly valid
3 particularly applicable

Discussion

Åsa Schoening Apr 19, 2011:
Interesting thought, but I don't think you can entirely drop the notion of "giltig." I've been thinking about "applicable," which has the notion of being valid - something has a universal or limited or particular application, something is of universal or limited or particular application, i.e. it is is valid when applied in a universal or limited or particular way, etc. Maybe: "...i.e., of particular application." Not really thrilled with it and haven't had a chance to see if I could find any support for it and it is probably a long shot... And then I thought of "of limited validity," since "limited" is more true to "partikulärt" than "particularly." But then you drop "particular," which is such a key term in his works. When I search for "particularly" in his works I find it used only in the sense of "synnerligen." Basically, I think you either have to find the term in the author's work or stay true to his intent. It seems indisputable that the sentence refers to the author's use of "particular." Obviously I just keep going in circles.
Christopher Schröder Apr 19, 2011:
Just to clarify, my suggestion is to put just plain "i.e. particular" and not translate the giltiga because it's understood. We're describing these three motives as particular, not universal. This also avoids the particularly issue below.

But I'm no philosopher, if indeed I even exist :-)
Thomas Johansson Apr 19, 2011:
(Eh, no, Åsa, you don't come across as disrespectful in any way whatsoever.)
Åsa Schoening Apr 18, 2011:
Thomas, I had to streamline my response so as not to run out of space. If I come across as disrespectful in any way, it is not intentional!
Åsa Schoening Apr 18, 2011:
Thomas, I get your point and I am not averse in general to using jarring language in translations of philosphical texts as long as it is supported by the author's original texts. Interestingly enough, we were on opposite sides of the fence in the Arendt discussion. I very much favored "the appearance to others," which, although jarring, in my mind perfectly echoes Arendt's writing and her thoughts on how one's self is revealed to others and hence how it appears to others. I also found support for my translation in reviews of her work, which also described her focus on the appearance and revelation of one's self to others. I lost the debate, which you won. Your answer was the general translation of "appearance before others." As for Hans Küng, I prefaced my answer with "Unless you can find Küng's specific expression." I still stand by that condition. If after exhaustive research there is no apparent equivalent, I would opt for a descriptive paraphrase that is faithful to the author's intent before introducing a concept that would falsely appear to be a coined term. After having read some of Küng's works, it seems obvious that he talks of validity based on a particular ethical value.
Thomas Johansson Apr 18, 2011:
I agree, Åsa, it sounds odd, especially since, as you note, "particularly" has another, well-established meaning in everyday English.

However, this is philosophy, and there words are often used - and have to (!) be used - in strange and unusual ways.

In this case, we need an adverb based on the adjective "particular" (in the sense of referring to a part, just like the Swedish "partikulärt"), and the established way in English to form such adverbs is by adding the suffix "-ly".

In particular, it's critical - in philosophical translations - to avoid (!) any temptation to interpret - or over-interpret - central philosophical terms by paraphrasing them.

Also, notice that the Swedish "partikulärt" is also used in a somewhat odd way here. Why hasn't the author spelled it out in more common Swedish? (For instance by using some such phrase as "d.v.s. giltiga i specifika avseenden", or even "giltiga endast baserat på en specifik etisk värdering eller attityd" or something else.)
Åsa Schoening Apr 18, 2011:
I agree that "particular" needs to be included, but I don't think "particularly" works, as I view "partikulärt" and "particularly" as being different. "Particularly" means "särskilt, i synnerhet, synnerligen" and "partikulärt" means "som utgör eller avser endast en del." Thus, "partikulärt" follows Küng's intent - giltig endast avseende eller baserat på något specifikt, en viss etik, inte baserat på en helhet eller en allmängiltig etik. To me, "X is particularly valid" means that not only is it valid, but it is also especially valid given a certain fact. Here, the use of "particularly valid" sounds very odd to me. Also, the Swedish term is preceded by "dvs," and I therefore think it's particularly important to use a term known to be accepted in the field or to at least rewrite it so that it makes sense. You offer particular (not particularly) - how would you use it in this sentence?
Christopher Schröder Apr 18, 2011:
I wonder whether plain "particular" would work, as the opposite to "universal" - these motives are regional etc and so not universal.

Proposed translations

1 hr
Selected

valid only based on a particular ethical value or attitude

Unless you can find Küng's specific expression, I think you need to rewrite this so as to explain the meaning. The basic concept is Küng's rejection of unconditional validity of a particular ethical value or standard.

From link below about book by Küng:

The author pleads for the primacy of ethics over politics and economics and, in reviewing both the Interfaith Declaration for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and the Caux Roundtable Principles for Business Conduct, he raises the question about the foundation for the unconditional validity of particular basic ethical values and attitudes.

Excerpt from lecture by Küng:
Moralism manifests itself in a one-sided and penetrating insistence on particular moral positions (for example, in questions of sexual behaviour, contraception, abortion, euthanasia and similar issues) which makes a rational dialogue with those of other convictions impossible.
Reference:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3857310

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/global_ethics/laughlin-lectures/global-ethic-human-responsibility.html

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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Excellent surfing - and a big help. Thank you!"
+1
1 hr

particularly valid

Here, "particularly" is used in an non-typical way.

However, philosophy is a field where conceptual exactitude usually or often is very important, and in translations this is usually maintained through rather literal translations, often at the risk of using words in unusual, somewhat forced, constructions, diverging from their usual meanings (as per other types of discourse).

I get the impression Küng himself is using the term "particular" - see the below quote. Therefore, I would probably translate either as "particularly valid" or - just possibly - spell it out in an approximated sense in more typical English: "valid at a particular level" (or some similar expression). In any case, I would make sure to use the word "particular".

Notice that being "valid at a particular level" or "valid in a particular domain" etc. does not necessarily entail being "valid in isolation" or vice versa.

Küng verteidigt über weite Strecken - insbesondere auch gegen "partikulare" und "regionale Rationalitäten und Plausibilitäten, Vorschriften und Gesetze"(64f) bzw. "trivialen Nihilismus", "dif-fusen Zynismus und soziale Kälte"(62) - das "Projekt Auf-klärung"(Hastedt) in seinen universal-humanen (Menschenrechte!), sozialen und emanzipativen Aspekten von "vernünftiger" Gestaltung der Welt.
http://www.philosophen-eck.de/Horst2.pdf
Peer comment(s):
agree rajagopalan sampatkumar
54 mins
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16 days

particularly applicable

in regional cases, the generalisations etc may be true
In other words, in certain cases, they are 'particularly applicable'
I did see that 'applicable' was also suggested in comments
I think that regional can be taken as more than just 'geographic region'
For example, in Scandanavia, the geographic region also encompasses the people (germanic descent), perhaps the religion (Protestant) and the politics (Social Democratic) without wishing to impose this on all Scandanavians
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