3,209
edits
Changes
Directory:Logic Museum/Boethius' Translation of the Perihermenias (view source)
Revision as of 09:22, 26 October 2008
, 09:22, 26 October 2008no edit summary
<a href = "#c14">Chapter 14</a>. Contrary affirmations and denials<br>
<a href = "#c14">Chapter 14</a>. Contrary affirmations and denials<br>
== Introduction ==
The following is not a parallel translation, but rather two translations, one English, one Latin,
The following is not a parallel translation, but rather two translations, one English, one Latin,
of the Greek text of Aristotle's <i>Perihermaneias</i>
of the Greek text of Aristotle's <i>Perihermaneias</i>
The Latin is Boethius's translation, made in the late fifth or early sixth century A.D.
The Latin is Boethius's translation, made in the late fifth or early sixth century A.D.
The English is the translation by E.M. Edghill of Bekker's 1831 text, published in 1928 by Oxford University Press.
The English is the translation by E.M. Edghill of Bekker's 1831 text, published in 1928 by Oxford University Press.
While the differences between the between Edghill's English and Boethius' Latin) are not large<sup><a href = "#note1">[1]</a></sup>,
While the differences between the between Edghill's English and Boethius' Latin) are not large <ref>The most obvious difference is in the examples, where the Greek proper names are replaced in Latin by quite different ones. For example, Aristotle talks of 'Philo', Boethius talks of 'Cato'. The famous line 'Thus <i>man</i> is a universal,
it is obviously not intended as an English translation of Boethius.
<i>Callias</i> an individual' becomes 'ut 'homo' quidem universale, 'Plato' vero eorum quae sunt singularia'].
The purpose of this page is to to provide a background to Latin logical language using a classic text that most English readers will be familiar with.
There are of course more significant differences than that. </ref> it is obviously not intended as an English translation of Boethius. The purpose of this page is to to provide a background to Latin logical language using a classic text that most English readers will be familiar with.
(You may also find
(You may also find [http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Grammar/Latin-Pronouns_Indefinite.html this]
guide to Latin quantifiers useful).
guide to Latin quantifiers useful).
== History ==
According to the Kneales, The <i>Perihermaneias</i> is one Aristotle's earlier logical works.
According to the Kneales, The <i>Perihermaneias</i> is one Aristotle's earlier logical works.
The Greek name means 'On Exposition'. It was called by that name by most medieval writers (using various spellings such as <i>Pery Hermaneias</i> &c),
The Greek name means 'On Exposition'. It was called by that name by most medieval writers (using various spellings such as <i>Pery Hermaneias</i> &c),
but has been known by the Latin <i>De Interpretatione</i> since the Renaissance.
but has been known by the Latin <i>De Interpretatione</i> since the Renaissance.
Boethius (472-524) was a fifth century Christian who wrote extensively on logic, philosophy and mathematics.
Boethius (472-524) was a fifth century Christian who wrote extensively on logic, philosophy and mathematics.
He is seen as important mainly as a medium by which the culture of antiquiry was transmitted to the middle ages.
He is seen as important mainly as a medium by which the culture of antiquiry was transmitted to the middle ages.
scholarship in the court schools of Charlemagne.
scholarship in the court schools of Charlemagne.
He is also important because his writings and translations are in Latin,
He is also important because his writings and translations are in Latin,
which in the Middles Ages became the language in which all philosophical, theological and logical discourse was carried on.
which in the Middles Ages became the language in which all philosophical, theological and logical discourse was carried on.
== The Perihermaneias ==
The <i>Perihermaneias</i> contains the main account of Aristotle's theory of meaning and truth, and was
The <i>Perihermaneias</i> contains the main account of Aristotle's theory of meaning and truth, and was
a starting point for medieval 'terminist' semantics. Some of the ideas are as follows:
a starting point for medieval 'terminist' semantics. Some of the ideas are as follows:
1. A noun and a verb are the minimum requirements for making a sentence (which Boethius calls <i>oratio</i>). Not every sentence is a proposition (<i>oratio enuntiativa</i>), since prayers are sentences, but not propositions. A proposition is only what has in it either truth or falsity (<i>enuntiativa vero non omnis sed in qua verum vel falsum inest</i>).
1. A noun and a verb are the minimum requirements for making a sentence (which Boethius calls <i>oratio</i>).
Not every sentence is a proposition (<i>oratio enuntiativa</i>), since prayers are sentences, but not propositions.
A proposition is only what has in it either truth or falsity
(<i>enuntiativa vero non omnis sed in qua verum vel falsum inest</i>).
Note that only once does Boethius use the word 'propositio'
Note that only once does Boethius use the word 'propositio'for what Edghill translates as 'the admission of a premiss'<ref> Cicero invented some of the Latin equivalents for Greek terms, such as <i>propositio</i>, meaning the leading premiss of an argument, which contrasts with <i>assumptio</i> meaning the additional premiss. Kneale (p. 178) claims that 'propositio' was used by Quintilian in the more general sense of 'statement' or 'indicative sentence', in which it was used throughout the middle ages</ref>. However, later writers such is Ockham preferred 'proposition', which is the ancestor of our modern 'proposition'.
for what Edghill translates as 'the admission of a premiss'<a href = "#note2">[2]</a></sup>.
However, later writers such is Ockham preferred 'proposition', which is the ancestor of our modern 'proposition'.
<p>2. Spoken words are signs of mental modifications (Boethius: <i>notae passionum anima</i> - literally passions or modifications of the soul).
<p>2. Spoken words are signs of mental modifications (Boethius: <i>notae passionum anima</i> - literally passions or modifications of the soul).
<b>Footnotes</b>
<b>Footnotes</b>
<p>
<p>
<p><a name= "note3">[3] Leading to a difficulty in English of translating related words such as those for negation,
<p><a name= "note3">[3] Leading to a difficulty in English of translating related words such as those for negation,
negativity, signs of negation and so on. For if we use 'denial' or 'deny', which is the most accurate in some cases, we
negativity, signs of negation and so on. For if we use 'denial' or 'deny', which is the most accurate in some cases, we
have to translate the corresponding abstract terms such as 'negatio' by the English abstract term 'negation', leading
have to translate the corresponding abstract terms such as 'negatio' by the English abstract term 'negation', leading
to the impression that there are a different family of words, where in Latin there is just one family.
to the impression that there are a different family of words, where in Latin there is just one family.