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  3. Philosophy

sähen

English translation: to see

08:06 Oct 30, 2012
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / philosophy of aesthetics
German term or phrase: sähen
"Fernando Pessoa (1888–1935) schreibt in Das Buch der Unruhe – seinem wohl wichtigstem Werk –, das für ihn Metaphysik seit jeher eine latente Form des Wahnsinns ist. Würde der Mensch die Wahrheit kennen, so würde er diese sähen. Der Mensch müsse sich mit der Unverständlichkeit des Universums begnügen; 'es verstehen wollen heißt weniger als Mensch sein, denn Mensch sein heißt wissen, dass man es nicht verstehen kann.'"

I am not familiar with this verb at all. It looks like a Konjunktiv, but it would shock me that the author lost control of his sentence to that extent. Is it a misspelling, and he meant säen? Any thoughts?
Eric Zink
Local time: 11:31
English translation:to see
Explanation:
I'm speaking Portuguese and I found the original:
A metafísica pareceu-me sempre uma forma prolongada da loucura latente.
Se conhecêssemos a verdade, vê-la-íamos; tudo o mais é sistema e
arredores. Basta-nos, se pensarmos, a incompreensibilidade do
universo; querer compreendê-lo é ser menos que homens, porque ser homem
é saber que se não compreende:
http://www.visionvox.com.br/biblioteca/o/O-LIVRO-DO-DESASSOS...

In English:
I always thought of metaphysics as a prolonged form of latent madness. If we knew the truth, we would see it:
http://tinyurl.com/8pfc5qz

Another translation:
Metaphysics has always struck me as a prolonged form of latent insanity. If we knew the truth, we’d see it; everything else is systems and approximations. The inscrutability of the universe is quite enough for us to think about:
http://www.phoenixism.net/?m=201007

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 Tage (2012-11-08 06:23:06 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Gerne & viel Erfolg!
Selected response from:

Coqueiro
Local time: 11:31
Grading comment
Can't beat the original. Thanks so much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3to see
Coqueiro
Summary of reference entries provided
Fernando Pessoa - Livro do Desassossego
Coqueiro

Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
sehen
to see


Explanation:
I'm speaking Portuguese and I found the original:
A metafísica pareceu-me sempre uma forma prolongada da loucura latente.
Se conhecêssemos a verdade, vê-la-íamos; tudo o mais é sistema e
arredores. Basta-nos, se pensarmos, a incompreensibilidade do
universo; querer compreendê-lo é ser menos que homens, porque ser homem
é saber que se não compreende:
http://www.visionvox.com.br/biblioteca/o/O-LIVRO-DO-DESASSOS...

In English:
I always thought of metaphysics as a prolonged form of latent madness. If we knew the truth, we would see it:
http://tinyurl.com/8pfc5qz

Another translation:
Metaphysics has always struck me as a prolonged form of latent insanity. If we knew the truth, we’d see it; everything else is systems and approximations. The inscrutability of the universe is quite enough for us to think about:
http://www.phoenixism.net/?m=201007

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 Tage (2012-11-08 06:23:06 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Gerne & viel Erfolg!

Coqueiro
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Can't beat the original. Thanks so much!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: If we knew the truth, we'd see this.
2 mins
  -> Dankeschön ;-)
agree  Phoebe Indetzki
4 hrs
  -> Thank you ;-)
agree  British Diana
2 days 6 hrs
  -> Thank you ;-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


3 hrs peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: Fernando Pessoa - Livro do Desassossego

Reference information:
A metafísica pareceu-me sempre uma forma prolongada da loucura latente.
Se conhecêssemos a verdade, vê-la-íamos; tudo o mais é sistema e
arredores. Basta-nos, se pensarmos, a incompreensibilidade do
universo; querer compreendê-lo é ser menos que homens, porque ser homem
é saber que se não compreende.:

http://www.visionvox.com.br/biblioteca/o/O-LIVRO-DO-DESASSOS...

vê-la-íamos bedeutet: würden wir sie sehen

Coqueiro
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  philgoddard: Yiu shoud have put this as an answer rather than a reference entry.
1 hr
  -> Thanks! Finally I found an english version
agree  Helen Shiner: Yes, it must be sehen, to sow makes no sense.
2 hrs
  -> thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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