This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. German to English
  3. Philosophy

Strebevermögen

English translation: Desire

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Strebevermögen
English translation:Desire
Entered by: Marcos Guntin

17:46 Jul 29, 2010
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy
German term or phrase: Strebevermögen
Das Erkennen ist ein Instrument, das die Seele dazu disponiert, mit HIlfe des Strebevermögens zu wirken.

I want to translate strebevermögen as aspiration, but am not quite sure here, e.g., Knowledge is an instrument that disposes the soul to have an effect with the help of aspiration.

I think this is the German translation from Latin:
"Notitia est instrumentum remotum, & praeuie disponens animam, ac suppositum, ut per appetitum operetur"
At least this is the footnote to that passage in case that helps...

Thanks in advance!
Tecaquitha
desire
Explanation:
I do not know how you are working on the rest of the text, but there would be two criteria: either you stay close to the Latin original to convey the notion of a technical term, or you try to provide a modern equivalent. In the first case, your answuer should be just "appetite". If you are doing the second, I would suggest:

Knowledge is an instrument that disposes the soul to act aided by desire.

Literally, in German it is saying: the capacity or faculty to desire. But in light of the Latin original you are providing, the term is "desire" tout court. The German version is, in its own way, accurate. Desire here does refer to a specific function of the soul, rather than, for instance, a fleeting passion. It denotes an abstract capacity, and is hence a term of art. However, either you can indicate the discinction in a footnote or the reader should be expected to know the difference. Either sounds better to me than to teutonize the original even further.

Hope this helps.

cheers,

Marcos

Selected response from:

Marcos Guntin
United States
Local time: 17:24
Grading comment
Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2desire
Marcos Guntin
1trs of
Jane Hoehne
Summary of reference entries provided
?
José Patrício

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
strebevermögen
desire


Explanation:
I do not know how you are working on the rest of the text, but there would be two criteria: either you stay close to the Latin original to convey the notion of a technical term, or you try to provide a modern equivalent. In the first case, your answuer should be just "appetite". If you are doing the second, I would suggest:

Knowledge is an instrument that disposes the soul to act aided by desire.

Literally, in German it is saying: the capacity or faculty to desire. But in light of the Latin original you are providing, the term is "desire" tout court. The German version is, in its own way, accurate. Desire here does refer to a specific function of the soul, rather than, for instance, a fleeting passion. It denotes an abstract capacity, and is hence a term of art. However, either you can indicate the discinction in a footnote or the reader should be expected to know the difference. Either sounds better to me than to teutonize the original even further.

Hope this helps.

cheers,

Marcos



Marcos Guntin
United States
Local time: 17:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: I totally agree with your reasoning.
40 mins
  -> Thank you, Johanna.
agree  mill2
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Mill
neutral  Tecaquitha: Agree, but would add "appetitive faculty" as an alternative, less contemporary translation
6 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4743 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
trs of


Explanation:
According to Thomas Aquinas Strebevermoegen is the concupiscible appetites

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4743 days (2023-07-25 14:55:52 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

The expression is probably not used and I hesitate myself to use it in the translation of a book. But I think it is correct according to my studies many years ago.

Jane Hoehne
United States
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


1 hr
Reference: ?

Reference information:
http://www.dict.cc/?s=vermögen

José Patrício
Portugal
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search