The Republic — Page 9

English → Spanish INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Level 9/10

Or a more general division into two parts may be adopted; the first (Books I - IV) containing the description of a State framed generally in accordance with Hellenic notions of religion and morality, while in the second (Books V - X) the Hellenic State is transformed into an ideal kingdom of philosophy, of which all other governments are the perversions.

O bien puede adoptarse una división más general en dos partes; la primera (Libros I - IV) que contiene la descripción de un Estado concebido en términos generales de acuerdo con las nociones helénicas de religión y moralidad, mientras que en la segunda (Libros V - X) el Estado helénico se transforma en un reino ideal de la filosofía, del cual todos los demás gobiernos son las perversiones.

These two points of view are really opposed, and the opposition is only veiled by the genius of Plato.

Estos dos puntos de vista están realmente opuestos, y la oposición solo queda velada por el genio de Platón.

The Republic, like the Phaedrus (see Introduction to Phaedrus), is an imperfect whole; the higher light of philosophy breaks through the regularity of the Hellenic temple, which at last fades away into the heavens.

La República, al igual que el Fedro (véase Introducción al Fedro), es un todo imperfecto; la luz superior de la filosofía irrumpe a través de la regularidad del templo helénico, que al final se desvanece en los cielos.

Whether this imperfection of structure arises from an enlargement of the plan; or from the imperfect reconcilement in the writer's own mind of the struggling elements of thought which are now first brought together by him; or, perhaps, from the composition of the work at different times—are questions, like the similar question about the Iliad and the Odyssey, which are worth asking, but which cannot have a distinct answer.

Si esta imperfección de estructura surge de una ampliación del plan; o de la reconciliación imperfecta en la propia mente del escritor de los elementos de pensamiento en pugna que ahora él reúne por primera vez; o, quizás, de la composición de la obra en diferentes momentos —son preguntas que, al igual que la pregunta similar sobre la Ilíada y la Odisea, merecen plantearse, pero que no pueden tener una respuesta definitiva.

In the age of Plato there was no regular mode of publication, and an author would have the less scruple in altering or adding to a work which was known only to a few of his friends.

En la época de Platón no existía un modo regular de publicación, y un autor tendría menos escrúpulos en alterar o añadir a una obra que solo era conocida por unos pocos de sus amigos.

Vocabulary

O: Conjunction meaning 'or', used to present alternatives.
bien: Well; also used to mean 'or else' in alternatives.
puede: Third person singular of 'poder'; 'can' or 'may'.
adoptarse: To be adopted; to take on or accept something.
una: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
división: Division; the act of separating into parts.
más: More; used to indicate greater degree or quantity.
general: General; broad or not specific in nature.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'.
dos: The number two.
partes: Parts; sections or divisions of a whole.
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
primera: First; feminine form of ordinal number one.
Libros: Books; written works or major sections of a text.
que: That; relative pronoun or conjunction connecting clauses.
contiene: Contains; holds or includes something within itself.
descripción: Description; a written or verbal account of something.
de: Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
Estado: State; a political community or organized government.
concebido: Conceived; imagined or formulated in the mind.
términos: Terms; words, expressions, or defined conditions.
generales: General; broad, not detailed or specific.
acuerdo: Agreement; conformity or harmony with something.
con: Preposition meaning 'with'.
las: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
nociones: Notions; basic ideas or general concepts about something.
helénicas: Hellenic; relating to ancient Greek culture or civilization.
religión: Religion; a system of spiritual beliefs and practices.
y: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
moralidad: Morality; principles distinguishing right from wrong behavior.
mientras: While; during the time that something else occurs.
segunda: Second; feminine ordinal number referring to position two.
el: Masculine definite article meaning 'the'.
helénico: Hellenic; pertaining to ancient Greek culture or society.
se: Reflexive pronoun used with verbs to indicate reflexive action.
transforma: Transforms; changes in form, nature, or appearance.
reino: Kingdom or realm; a domain ruled or governed ideally.
ideal: Ideal; a perfect standard or conception to aspire to.
filosofía: Philosophy; the study of fundamental questions about existence.
del: Contraction of 'de' and 'el', meaning 'of the'.
cual: Which; relative pronoun referring to a previously mentioned noun.
todos: All; every one without exception.
los: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
demás: The rest; the others; remaining members of a group.
gobiernos: Governments; systems or groups that rule a state.
son: Are; third person plural present tense of 'ser'.
perversiones: Perversions; corruptions or distortions of something original.
Estos: These; masculine plural demonstrative pronoun.
puntos: Points; specific positions, ideas, or arguments in discussion.
vista: View; perspective or opinion on a matter.
están: Are; third person plural present of 'estar' (temporary state).
realmente: Really; truly or in actual fact.
opuestos: Opposed; contrary or in direct conflict with each other.
oposición: Opposition; conflict or resistance between contrasting ideas.
solo: Only; merely, exclusively, or just one thing.
queda: Remains; stays or is left in a certain state.
velada: Veiled; hidden or concealed beneath something else.
por: Preposition meaning 'by', 'for', or 'through'.
genio: Genius; extraordinary intellectual or creative ability.
La: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
República: The Republic; Plato's famous philosophical dialogue on justice.
al: Contraction of 'a' and 'el', meaning 'to the'.
igual: Equal; the same as; similarly or in the same way.
véase: See; imperative form meaning 'refer to' or 'look at'.
Introducción: Introduction; preliminary section presenting a work or topic.
es: Is; third person singular present of 'ser'.
todo: All; everything; the whole of something.
imperfecto: Imperfect; not complete, flawed, or having deficiencies.
luz: Light; illumination or enlightenment.
superior: Superior; higher in quality, rank, or degree.
irrumpe: Bursts in; breaks through suddenly and forcefully.
a: Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at'.
través: Through; across or by means of something.
regularidad: Regularity; the quality of being orderly and consistent.
templo: Temple; a building dedicated to religious worship.
final: Final; last or occurring at the end.
desvanece: Fades away; disappears or diminishes gradually.
cielos: Heavens; skies or the celestial realm above us.
Si: If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical clause.
esta: This; feminine singular demonstrative adjective.
imperfección: Imperfection; a flaw or deficiency in something.
estructura: Structure; the arrangement or organization of components.
surge: Arises; emerges or comes up from something.
ampliación: Enlargement or expansion; the act of extending something.
plan: Plan; a scheme or intended course of action.
o: Or; conjunction presenting an alternative option.
reconciliación: Reconciliation; bringing opposing ideas into harmony.
imperfecta: Imperfect; flawed or incomplete, feminine form.
propia: Own; belonging to or characteristic of oneself.
mente: Mind; the faculty of thought, reason, and perception.
escritor: Writer; a person who composes texts or literary works.
elementos: Elements; basic components or parts of something larger.
pensamiento: Thought; the process or product of mental activity.
pugna: Conflict; a struggle or tension between opposing forces.
ahora: Now; at the present moment or time.
él: He; third person masculine singular subject pronoun.
reúne: Gathers or brings together; combines elements into one.
vez: Time; an instance or occasion of something occurring.
quizás: Perhaps; maybe; expressing uncertainty or possibility.
composición: Composition; the way something is put together or written.
obra: Work; a literary, artistic, or intellectual creation.
diferentes: Different; distinct or unlike in nature or quality.
momentos: Moments; brief periods or points in time.
preguntas: Questions; inquiries posed to seek information or clarification.
pregunta: Question; a single inquiry seeking information or an answer.
similar: Similar; resembling or alike in nature or appearance.
sobre: About; on the subject of; or on top of.
merecen: Deserve; are worthy of something; merit consideration.
plantearse: To be raised or posed; to be considered or asked.
pero: But; conjunction expressing contrast or exception.
no: No; negation used to deny or refuse something.
pueden: Can; third person plural of 'poder', expressing ability.
tener: To have; to possess or hold something.
respuesta: Answer or response; a reply to a question or situation.
definitiva: Definitive; final, conclusive, or clearly established.
En: In; preposition indicating location, time, or manner.
época: Era or epoch; a period of time with distinct characteristics.
existía: Existed; there was; imperfect tense of 'existir'.
modo: Way or manner; a method or mode of doing something.
regular: Regular; standard, ordinary, or following established norms.
publicación: Publication; the act of making a work publicly available.
autor: Author; a person who writes or creates a literary work.
tendría: Would have; conditional tense of 'tener'.
menos: Less; fewer; to a smaller degree or extent.
escrúpulos: Scruples; moral doubts or qualms about one's actions.
alterar: To alter; to change or modify something significantly.
añadir: To add; to include additional content or material.
era: Was; imperfect tense of 'ser', describing a past state.
conocida: Known; recognized or familiar to people.
unos: Some; a few; masculine plural indefinite article.
pocos: Few; a small number of people or things.
sus: His, her, their, or your (formal); possessive adjective.
amigos: Friends; people with whom one has a close relationship.

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