Beyond Good and Evil — Page 6

English → Fr CHAPTER I. PREJUDICES OF PHILOSOPHERS Level 9/10

They all pose as though their real opinions had been discovered and attained through the self-evolving of a cold, pure, divinely indifferent dialectic (in contrast to all sorts of mystics, who, fairer and foolisher, talk of "inspiration"), whereas, in fact, a prejudiced proposition, idea, or "suggestion," which is generally their heart's desire abstracted and refined, is defended by them with arguments sought out after the event.

Ils posent tous comme si leurs véritables opinions avaient été découvertes et atteintes par l'évolution spontanée d'une dialectique froide, pure, divinement indifférente (par contraste avec toutes sortes de mystiques qui, plus honnêtes et plus sots, parlent d'« inspiration »), alors qu'en réalité une proposition, une idée ou une « suggestion » tendancieuse, qui est généralement le désir profond de leur cœur abstrait et raffiné, est défendue par eux avec des arguments cherchés après coup.

They are all advocates who do not wish to be regarded as such, generally astute defenders, also, of their prejudices, which they dub "truths,"--and VERY far from having the conscience which bravely admits this to itself, very far from having the good taste of the courage which goes so far as to let this be understood, perhaps to warn friend or foe, or in cheerful confidence and self-ridicule.

Ils sont tous des avocats qui ne souhaitent pas être considérés comme tels, généralement des défenseurs habiles, également, de leurs préjugés, qu'ils baptisent « vérités », — et TRÈS loin d'avoir la conscience qui admet bravement cela à elle-même, très loin d'avoir le bon goût du courage qui va jusqu'à laisser entendre cela, peut-être pour avertir ami ou ennemi, ou dans une joyeuse confiance et une autodérision.

The spectacle of the Tartuffery of old Kant, equally stiff and decent, with which he entices us into the dialectic by-ways that lead (more correctly mislead) to his "categorical imperative"--makes us fastidious ones smile, we who find no small amusement in spying out the subtle tricks of old moralists and ethical preachers.

Le spectacle de la tartufferie du vieux Kant, également guindé et convenable, avec laquelle il nous attire dans les détours dialectiques qui mènent (ou plus exactement égarent) vers son « impératif catégorique », — nous fait sourire, nous les difficiles, nous qui trouvons un amusement non négligeable à épier les subtiles ruses des vieux moralistes et des prédicateurs éthiques.

Vocabulary

posent: poz — They place, put, or pose something.
tous: tus — All, every one; used before a noun or alone.
comme: kɔm — As, like; used for comparison or manner.
si: si — If, as if; introduces a conditional or comparison.
leurs: lœr — Their; plural possessive adjective for multiple owners.
véritables: veritabl — True, genuine, real; emphasizes authenticity of something.
opinions: ɔpinjɔ̃ — Opinions, views; personal beliefs or judgments held.
avaient: avɛ — They had; imperfect tense of avoir.
été: ete — Been; past participle of être, to be.
découvertes: dekuvɛrt — Discovered, uncovered; feminine plural past participle.
atteintes: atɛ̃t — Reached, attained; feminine plural past participle of atteindre.
évolution: evɔlysjɔ̃ — Evolution, development; gradual change or progression over time.
spontanée: spɔ̃tane — Spontaneous; occurring naturally without external prompting or planning.
dialectique: dialɛktik — Dialectic; logical argumentation or method of reasoning.
froide: fʁwad — Cold; lacking warmth, emotion, or personal feeling.
pure: pyʁ — Pure, clear; unmixed, uncontaminated, or wholly abstract.
divinement: divinmɑ̃ — Divinely; in a manner befitting or resembling a god.
indifférente: ɛ̃diferɑ̃t — Indifferent; showing no interest, concern, or preference.
contraste: kɔ̃tʁast — Contrast; notable difference between two things compared.
toutes: tut — All; feminine plural form of tout.
sortes: sɔʁt — Sorts, kinds, types; varieties of something.
mystiques: mistik — Mystics; people believing in spiritual or hidden truths.
plus: ply — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree.
honnêtes: ɔnɛt — Honest; truthful, straightforward, morally upright in character.
sots: so — Fools, simpletons; people lacking wisdom or good judgment.
parlent: paʁl — They speak, talk; third plural present of parler.
inspiration: ɛ̃spirasjɔ̃ — Inspiration; a sudden creative or divine mental influence.
alors: alɔʁ — Then, so; indicates time, consequence, or transition.
réalité: realite — Reality; the true state of things as they are.
proposition: pʁɔpozisjɔ̃ — Proposition, statement; a claim or idea put forward.
idée: ide — Idea, thought; a mental concept or notion formed.
suggestion: sygɛstjɔ̃ — Suggestion; an idea or proposal offered for consideration.
tendancieuse: tɑ̃dɑ̃sjøz — Tendentious; biased, promoting a particular point of view.
généralement: ʒeneʁalmɑ̃ — Generally, usually; in most cases or as a rule.
désir: deziʁ — Desire, wish; a strong feeling of wanting something.
profond: pʁɔfɔ̃ — Deep, profound; extending far or having great intensity.
leur: lœʁ — Their, to them; possessive or indirect object pronoun.
cœur: kœʁ — Heart; center of emotion, feeling, or inner life.
abstrait: abstʁɛ — Abstract; existing as a concept rather than concrete reality.
raffiné: ʁafine — Refined, sophisticated; showing elegance and subtlety of thought.
défendue: defɑ̃dy — Defended; supported or protected by arguments or reasoning.
eux: ø — Them; stressed third person masculine plural pronoun.
arguments: aʁgymɑ̃ — Arguments; reasons or evidence supporting a claim or position.
cherchés: ʃɛʁʃe — Sought, looked for; past participle of chercher.
après: apʁɛ — After; following in time, order, or position.
coup: ku — Blow, hit; also used in expressions like après coup.
avocats: avɔka — Lawyers, advocates; people who argue cases professionally.
souhaitent: swɛt — They wish, desire; third plural present of souhaiter.
considérés: kɔ̃sideʁe — Considered, regarded; past participle of considérer.
tels: tɛl — Such, as such; used to indicate category or type.
défenseurs: defɑ̃sœʁ — Defenders, advocates; those who protect or champion a cause.
habiles: abil — Skilled, clever; showing great ability or dexterity.
également: egalmɑ̃ — Also, equally; in the same degree or likewise.
préjugés: pʁeʒyʒe — Prejudices, biases; preconceived and often unfair judgments.
baptisent: batiz — They baptize, name; they call or label something officially.
vérités: veʁite — Truths; things that are true or factually accurate.
loin: lwɛ̃ — Far; at a great distance in space or degree.
conscience: kɔ̃sjɑ̃s — Conscience, awareness; moral sense or inner self-knowledge.
admet: admɛ — Admits, acknowledges; third singular present of admettre.
bravement: bʁavmɑ̃ — Bravely, boldly; with courage and without hesitation.
cela: səla — That, this; demonstrative pronoun referring to something mentioned.
même: mɛm — Same, even, itself; used for emphasis or comparison.
bon: bɔ̃ — Good; of high quality, pleasant, or morally right.
goût: gu — Taste; aesthetic sense or flavor of something.
courage: kuʁaʒ — Courage, bravery; ability to face difficulty without fear.
va: va — Goes; third person singular present of aller.
jusqu': ʒysk — Until, up to; preposition indicating limit or extent.
laisser: lɛse — To let, allow; to permit something to happen.
entendre: ɑ̃tɑ̃dʁ — To hear, to imply; to listen or suggest indirectly.
peut: pø — Can, may; third singular present of pouvoir.
avertir: avɛʁtiʁ — To warn, notify; to inform someone of danger or fact.
ami: ami — Friend; a person one has a close bond with.
ennemi: ɛnmi — Enemy; a person who is hostile or opposed to you.
joyeuse: ʒwajøz — Joyful, cheerful; full of happiness and good spirits.
confiance: kɔ̃fjɑ̃s — Confidence, trust; belief in one's own or others' reliability.
autodérision: otoderiziõ̞ — Self-mockery; the act of making fun of oneself.
spectacle: spɛktakl — Spectacle, sight; an impressive or remarkable visual display.
tartufferie: taʁtyfʁi — Hypocrisy; false display of virtue or religious devotion.
vieux: vjø — Old; advanced in age or long-established.
guindé: gɛ̃de — Stiff, stilted; unnaturally formal or pompous in manner.
convenable: kɔ̃vənabl — Proper, suitable; conforming to accepted standards of behavior.
laquelle: lakɛl — Which; feminine relative or interrogative pronoun.
attire: atiʁ — Attracts, draws; pulls toward or entices someone.
détours: detuʁ — Detours, roundabout ways; indirect paths or methods used.
dialectiques: dialɛktik — Dialectical; relating to logical debate or argumentation methods.
mènent: mɛn — They lead, bring; third plural present of mener.
exactement: ɛgzaktəmɑ̃ — Exactly, precisely; with complete accuracy or correctness.
égarent: egaʁ — They mislead, stray; cause to lose one's way.
vers: vɛʁ — Toward, towards; preposition indicating direction or aim.
impératif: ɛ̃peʁatif — Imperative; a command or essential moral obligation.
catégorique: kategɔʁik — Categorical; absolute, unconditional, without exception or qualification.
fait: fɛ — Makes, does; third singular present of faire.
sourire: suʁiʁ — To smile; to express amusement or pleasure facially.
difficiles: difisil — Difficult, hard; not easy to do or understand.
trouvons: tʁuvɔ̃ — We find; first plural present of trouver.
amusement: amyzmɑ̃ — Amusement; entertainment or the feeling of being entertained.
négligeable: Negligible; too small or unimportant to be considered.
épier: epje — To spy on, watch; to observe someone secretly and closely.
subtiles: syptil — Subtle; delicate, refined, not immediately obvious or apparent.
ruses: ʁyz — Tricks, ruses; cunning strategies used to deceive someone.
moralistes: mɔʁalist — Moralists; people who teach or enforce moral principles.
prédicateurs: pʁedikatœʁ — Preachers; those who deliver moral or religious sermons.
éthiques: etik — Ethical; relating to moral principles or standards of conduct.

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