Jul 8, 2021 14:49
2 yrs ago
38 viewers *
French term
Fast and Accurate
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 1 more.
à la main
French to English
Social Sciences
Philosophy
The academic paper on 19th century French philosophy cites this passage from Vacherot:
« société vieillie, près de se dissoudre, sans confiance dans ses institutions, sans foi dans ses dogmes, se rejetant dans un passé auquel elle ne croit plus, par peur d’un avenir qu’elle pressent à peine ; une philosophie indécise plutôt que sceptique, prompte à dogmatiser l’histoire ***à la main***, mais impuissante à rien tirer de son propre fonds, riche d’érudition, pauvre de science (…), inclinant de guerre lasse vers cet éclectisme léger qui, plutôt par indifférence que par impartialité, ne se fixe nulle part, sous prétexte que la vérité est partout (…) »
The full text is here:
https://en.calameo.com/read/0001070447418714a6d0a
« société vieillie, près de se dissoudre, sans confiance dans ses institutions, sans foi dans ses dogmes, se rejetant dans un passé auquel elle ne croit plus, par peur d’un avenir qu’elle pressent à peine ; une philosophie indécise plutôt que sceptique, prompte à dogmatiser l’histoire ***à la main***, mais impuissante à rien tirer de son propre fonds, riche d’érudition, pauvre de science (…), inclinant de guerre lasse vers cet éclectisme léger qui, plutôt par indifférence que par impartialité, ne se fixe nulle part, sous prétexte que la vérité est partout (…) »
The full text is here:
https://en.calameo.com/read/0001070447418714a6d0a
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
12 hrs
Melissa McMahon
Australia
Australia
Native in English
Specializes in field
Australia
Related KudoZ points
:
86
French term (edited):
dogmatiser l’histoire à la main
Selected
hand-pick dogmas from history
What a sentence! There was a bit you left out that I think is helpful: "... pauvre de science, aimant mieux reproduire telle doctrine toute faite que d'en créer une par le travail de sa propre pensée..."
Other proz.cm entries for "à la main" tend to towards the idea of using discretion, though it is usually "à la main DE x".
The overall picture he is painting is of lazy dilettantism and a tendency to skate on the surface rather than dig deep.
This suggests to me that the meaning here is about plucking fixed ideas from history like you would from a bunch of grapes, picking and choosing without really being interested in connections or the deep reason behind things. "Pick and choose" or "pluck" would I think be possible substitutes for "hand-pick".
But it's a tricky one. Clearly a lyrical author.
Other proz.cm entries for "à la main" tend to towards the idea of using discretion, though it is usually "à la main DE x".
The overall picture he is painting is of lazy dilettantism and a tendency to skate on the surface rather than dig deep.
This suggests to me that the meaning here is about plucking fixed ideas from history like you would from a bunch of grapes, picking and choosing without really being interested in connections or the deep reason behind things. "Pick and choose" or "pluck" would I think be possible substitutes for "hand-pick".
But it's a tricky one. Clearly a lyrical author.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: I prefer "Pick and choose..." and "aimant mieux reproduire telle doctrine toute faite" does seem to give this impression
5 hrs
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Yes, "pick and choose" does convey the sense of making a self-serving selection
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| agree |
Katarina Peters
: hand-picked
10 hrs
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Thanks for your suggestion Katarina
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| agree |
James A. Walsh
10 hrs
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Thanks James
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
5 hrs
Frank Gerace
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Competent, rapid, responsible, elegant
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, Italian to English, and 1 more.
received/popular/accepted
damning by contrast
6 hrs
David Hollywood
Native in English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
manipulate
manipulate/tailor/twist/shape/mould history to fit/suit etc.
7 hrs
French term (edited):
une philosophie prompte à dogmatiser l’histoire à la main
a philosophy (that is) quick to turn history into dogma by their own hands
"à la main" => their (these philosophers') own doing, implied: without being bothered about facts or wasting time on research.
"à la main" as opposed to using tools (like research), and as in "doing it themselves".
"à la main" as opposed to using tools (like research), and as in "doing it themselves".
Discussion
Je crois que Vacherot utilise ici une image comme pour dire "un livre d'histoire à la main". Il veut dire que cette philosophie tire tout de l'histoire, du passé, plutôt que de sa propre réflexion.
Found this meaning for "à la main":
Acheter de la viande à la main: l'acheter sans la faire peser, en jugant de son poids par la vue et avec la main.
https://www.espacefrancais.com/expressions-et-locutions-auto...
And by extenson...