契機

English translation: Elements

15:25 Nov 21, 2007
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / Keiji Nishitani
Japanese term or phrase: 契機
Here is the surrounding text:

原自然的生は自我という形をとり、自我の活動に変化せしめられるとき、「我意」へと変化する。逆に、我意へと変化した自然的生 は、自我のうちに作用して、自我を「自愛的な自我」に変容させるというのである。では、原自然的生と自我という二つの**契機**の一体化ということはどうして起こるのか。西谷は、それを起こすのは構想力の活動であると云う。

I found a description for "契機" as "moments", as in things which cause other things. Could this term be used here?

Here is the dictionary reference:

(2)〔哲〕〔(ドイツ) Moment〕ある物を動かし、規定する根拠・要因。弁証法では、発展に組み込まれて、より大きな関係を構成する不可欠なものとなった要素。

Thanks again.
CalumR
Japan
Local time: 10:52
English translation:Elements
Explanation:
Moment is a technical term in philosophy and psychology, which I think has its roots in the German phenomenologists such as Husserl and Heidegger, although it's used with some inconsistency by them. You are probably safe with 'moment(s)' assuming your readers are well versed in philosophy, but element (or factor) has much the same meaning here and adds a bit of clarity to the mud!

Watsuji Tetsuro, a contempory of Nishitani and influenced by Heidegger uses 構造契機 which seems to be a borrowing of Heidegger's 'constitutive moments' (Konstituierende Momente), which Heidegger apparently uses to mean constitutive elements or parts.

Hope that helps!
Selected response from:

Steven Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:52
Grading comment
Thanks again - quite interesting that moments are equated with elements by Heidegger - seems like the aspect of causation is lost by calling something an element as opposed to a moment, though I don't have enough knowledge in this field to really give a meaningful opinion.....what do you reckon? Anyway, thanks for this answer!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3Elements
Steven Smith
2opportunity
Kim Carlson Tadenuma


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Elements


Explanation:
Moment is a technical term in philosophy and psychology, which I think has its roots in the German phenomenologists such as Husserl and Heidegger, although it's used with some inconsistency by them. You are probably safe with 'moment(s)' assuming your readers are well versed in philosophy, but element (or factor) has much the same meaning here and adds a bit of clarity to the mud!

Watsuji Tetsuro, a contempory of Nishitani and influenced by Heidegger uses 構造契機 which seems to be a borrowing of Heidegger's 'constitutive moments' (Konstituierende Momente), which Heidegger apparently uses to mean constitutive elements or parts.

Hope that helps!

Steven Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thanks again - quite interesting that moments are equated with elements by Heidegger - seems like the aspect of causation is lost by calling something an element as opposed to a moment, though I don't have enough knowledge in this field to really give a meaningful opinion.....what do you reckon? Anyway, thanks for this answer!
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
opportunity


Explanation:
I found this translation in a dictionary, but it may be too literal.

Kim Carlson Tadenuma
Japan
Local time: 10:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi - thanks for your answer!

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