constancia de la naturleza humana

English translation: [that] human nature is constant/fixed/immutable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:constancia de la naturleza humana
English translation:[that] human nature is constant/fixed/immutable
Entered by: Pat nqn

11:23 Jan 22, 2010
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Philosophy / history
Spanish term or phrase: constancia de la naturleza humana
Ya sea que el ejemplo que se tomara del pasado sirviese para derrotar cualquier generalización o para encontrar reglas generales ( ), tiene como presupuesto la uniformidad de la naturaleza humana. En efecto, si no se presupone o se cree en la constancia de la naturaleza humana, el acontecimiento pasado al que se apela pierde su cualidad o utilidad como exemplum
Pat nqn
[that] human nature is constant/fixed/immutable
Explanation:
Because the primary meaning of 'constancy' is moral or emotional - faithful, dependable - and that is not what's required here. I think a verb phrase like this works better.

Of the three adjectives I suggest, 'immutable' works best in noun form here - 'the immutablity of human nature'. You can't have 'the fixedness or fixed nature of human nature' (argh!) and as I've said, I think 'constancy' doesn't quite work in this context.

Using a verb phrase also helps you avoid a near-repetition of the previous 'uniformity of human nature' so in my view makes the text read better.

Hope that helps.

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Note added at 37 mins (2010-01-22 12:00:43 GMT)
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594,000 google hits for 'human nature is fixed':

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q="human natur...
Selected response from:

David Ronder
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
Grading comment
I agree with you! This is why I asked you all, the words are easy but the idea .... tks again
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4the constancy of human nature
Kevin Melody
4 +1(the) consistency of human nature
Jenny Westwell
4 +1[that] human nature is constant/fixed/immutable
David Ronder
4invariability of the human nature
Vladimir Martinez
4the endurance of human nature
Jenni Lukac (X)


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
the constancy of human nature


Explanation:
Sounds pretty straightforward to me, given the context.

Kevin Melody
United States
Local time: 07:21
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Sure is!
4 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil. ;)

agree  James A. Walsh
16 mins
  -> Thanks, James.

agree  Julie Waddington
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Julie!

agree  Ana Resende
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ana. ;)
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
constancia de la naturaleza humana
(the) consistency of human nature


Explanation:
consistency: the state of always keeping to the same principles or course of action

Suerte :)

Jenny Westwell
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Fiona Kirton
2 mins
  -> Thanks Fiona :)
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
invariability of the human nature


Explanation:
Also: "constancy" of the human being behavior,invariability of the human being character or nature.

Vladimir Martinez
Spain
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the endurance of human nature


Explanation:
Some sources: http://www.scribd.com/doc/22018742/eBook-Dic-English-Spanish... definition of endurance = constancia; also: Variedades de La Experiencia Religiosa: Estudio de La Naturaleza Humana ... raices de la perseverancia/ The Roots of Endurance: La inquebrantable constancia ...
www.flippid.com/.../Raices_de_la_Santeria_Una_Vision_Comple... - En caché

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 15:21
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
[that] human nature is constant/fixed/immutable


Explanation:
Because the primary meaning of 'constancy' is moral or emotional - faithful, dependable - and that is not what's required here. I think a verb phrase like this works better.

Of the three adjectives I suggest, 'immutable' works best in noun form here - 'the immutablity of human nature'. You can't have 'the fixedness or fixed nature of human nature' (argh!) and as I've said, I think 'constancy' doesn't quite work in this context.

Using a verb phrase also helps you avoid a near-repetition of the previous 'uniformity of human nature' so in my view makes the text read better.

Hope that helps.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2010-01-22 12:00:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

594,000 google hits for 'human nature is fixed':

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q="human natur...

David Ronder
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
I agree with you! This is why I asked you all, the words are easy but the idea .... tks again

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jenny Westwell: Yes, I agree about the emotional connotation of "constancy". I like your version. :)
4 hrs
  -> Constancy in love and all that - thanks, la ace
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