The Republic — Page 9

English → Fr 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.

Ou bien une division plus générale en deux parties peut être adoptée ; la première (Livres I - IV) contenant la description d'un État conçu généralement en accord avec les notions helléniques de religion et de morale, tandis que dans la seconde (Livres V - X) l'État hellénique est transformé en un royaume idéal de la philosophie, dont tous les autres gouvernements sont les perversions.

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

Ces deux points de vue sont réellement opposés, et l'opposition n'est voilée que par le génie de Platon.

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 République, comme le Phèdre (voir Introduction au Phèdre), est un tout imparfait ; la lumière supérieure de la philosophie perce à travers la régularité du temple hellénique, qui finit par se fondre dans les cieux.

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.

Que cette imperfection de structure provienne d'un élargissement du plan ; ou de la réconciliation imparfaite dans l'esprit même de l'auteur des éléments de pensée en conflit qui sont maintenant rassemblés pour la première fois par lui ; ou, peut-être, de la composition de l'œuvre à différentes époques — ce sont là des questions, semblables à la question analogue concernant l'Iliade et l'Odyssée, qui méritent d'être posées, mais auxquelles on ne peut donner une réponse précise.

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.

À l'époque de Platon, il n'existait aucun mode régulier de publication, et un auteur aurait d'autant moins de scrupules à modifier ou à ajouter à une œuvre qui n'était connue que de quelques-uns de ses amis.

Vocabulary

Ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', connecting alternatives.
bien: Well; also used as 'or rather, indeed'.
une: Indefinite article, feminine singular: 'a, an'.
division: A split or separation into distinct parts.
plus: More; indicates greater degree or quantity.
générale: General; broad, not specific or detailed.
en: Preposition meaning 'in, into, on, by'.
deux: The number two.
parties: Parts or sections of a larger whole.
peut: Third-person singular of 'pouvoir': can, may.
être: To be; fundamental linking or auxiliary verb.
adoptée: Adopted; accepted or chosen as a method.
la: Definite article, feminine singular: 'the'.
première: First; feminine form of 'premier'.
Livres: Books; major numbered divisions of a written work.
contenant: Containing; holding or including within itself.
description: An account detailing the features of something.
d: Contracted form of 'de' before a vowel.
un: Indefinite article, masculine singular: 'a, an'.
État: State; a politically organized community or government.
conçu: Conceived; designed or imagined in the mind.
généralement: Generally; in most cases, broadly speaking.
accord: Agreement; harmony or conformity with something.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
les: Definite article, plural: 'the'.
notions: Notions; basic concepts or general ideas.
helléniques: Hellenic; relating to ancient Greek culture.
de: Preposition meaning 'of, from, about'.
religion: Religion; belief system involving worship and faith.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
morale: Morality; principles distinguishing right from wrong.
tandis: Used in 'tandis que': while, whereas.
que: That, which, what; subordinating conjunction.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in, inside, within'.
seconde: Second; feminine form, referring to second part.
l: Contracted definite article before a vowel.
hellénique: Hellenic; pertaining to ancient Greek civilization.
est: Third-person singular of 'être': is.
transformé: Transformed; changed into a different form.
royaume: Kingdom; a realm ruled by a king or queen.
idéal: Ideal; a perfect or most desirable standard.
philosophie: Philosophy; study of knowledge, reality, and existence.
dont: Relative pronoun meaning 'of which, whose'.
tous: All; every one without exception.
autres: Others; the remaining or different ones.
gouvernements: Governments; systems or bodies that rule states.
sont: Third-person plural of 'être': are.
perversions: Perversions; distorted or corrupted forms of something.
Ces: Demonstrative adjective: these, those.
points: Points; specific aspects, ideas, or positions.
vue: View; perspective or way of seeing something.
réellement: Really, truly; in actual fact.
opposés: Opposed; contrary or conflicting with each other.
opposition: Opposition; conflict or contrast between two things.
n: Contracted negative particle 'ne' before vowel.
voilée: Veiled; hidden, concealed beneath a surface.
par: Preposition meaning 'by, through, per'.
le: Definite article, masculine singular: 'the'.
génie: Genius; extraordinary intellectual or creative power.
La: Definite article, feminine singular: 'the'.
République: Republic; Plato's famous philosophical dialogue.
comme: Like, as; used for comparisons.
voir: To see; also used as 'see (reference)'.
Introduction: Introduction; opening section presenting a work.
au: Contracted 'à le': to the, at the.
tout: All, whole, every; completely.
imparfait: Imperfect; incomplete or flawed; also past tense.
lumière: Light; illumination, also metaphorically enlightenment.
supérieure: Superior; higher in quality or rank.
perce: Pierces through; penetrates or breaks through.
à: Preposition meaning 'to, at, in'.
travers: Through; across, via ('à travers' = through).
régularité: Regularity; consistency, orderly or uniform arrangement.
du: Contracted 'de le': of the, from the.
temple: Temple; a sacred building for religious worship.
qui: Who, which, that; relative or interrogative pronoun.
finit: Ends, finishes; third-person singular of 'finir'.
se: Reflexive pronoun: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
fondre: To melt, merge, blend into something.
cieux: Heavens, skies; plural of 'ciel'.
Que: That, what; conjunction or relative pronoun.
cette: Demonstrative adjective, feminine: this, that.
imperfection: Imperfection; a flaw or incompleteness in something.
structure: Structure; the arrangement of parts forming a whole.
provienne: Comes from, originates; subjunctive of 'provenir'.
élargissement: Widening, broadening; expansion of scope or plan.
plan: Plan; a scheme, design, or outline.
ou: Or; conjunction connecting alternatives.
réconciliation: Reconciliation; restoring harmony between conflicting elements.
imparfaite: Imperfect; incomplete or inadequate, feminine form.
esprit: Mind, spirit, wit; intellectual or mental faculty.
même: Same; even, itself; used for emphasis.
auteur: Author; the writer or creator of a work.
des: Contraction of 'de les': of the, some.
éléments: Elements; fundamental components or parts of something.
pensée: Thought; an idea or the act of thinking.
conflit: Conflict; a serious disagreement or struggle.
maintenant: Now; at the present time.
rassemblés: Gathered, assembled; brought together in one place.
pour: For; in order to, intended for.
fois: Time(s); instance or occurrence of an event.
lui: Him, her; third-person singular pronoun (indirect).
peut-être: Perhaps, maybe; expresses uncertainty or possibility.
composition: Composition; the creation or arrangement of a work.
œuvre: Work; a literary, artistic, or intellectual creation.
différentes: Different; distinct, varied, not the same.
époques: Epochs, eras; distinct periods of time.
ce: This, that; demonstrative pronoun or adjective.
là: There; indicating a place or referring back.
questions: Questions; matters or issues requiring answers.
semblables: Similar, alike; resembling one another.
question: Question; an issue or problem to be considered.
analogue: Analogous; similar or comparable in some respect.
concernant: Concerning; regarding, relating to a subject.
méritent: Deserve, merit; are worthy of consideration.
posées: Posed, asked; put forward (questions).
mais: But; conjunction indicating contrast or exception.
auxquelles: To which; relative pronoun, feminine plural form.
on: One, we, they; indefinite subject pronoun.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas', 'jamais', etc.
donner: To give; to provide or offer something.
réponse: Answer, response; a reply to a question.
précise: Precise; exact, clearly defined, accurate.
À: Preposition meaning 'at, to, in'.
époque: Epoch, era; a particular period in history.
il: He, it; third-person masculine singular pronoun.
existait: Existed; imperfect tense of 'exister'.
aucun: No, none, not any; negative indefinite adjective.
mode: Mode, way, method of doing something.
régulier: Regular; following a fixed pattern or rule.
publication: Publication; the act of making work publicly available.
aurait: Would have; conditional of 'avoir'.
autant: As much, as many; to the same degree.
moins: Less, fewer; indicating a smaller amount.
scrupules: Scruples; moral doubts or hesitations about action.
modifier: To modify; to change or alter something.
ajouter: To add; to include something additional.
était: Was; imperfect tense of 'être'.
connue: Known; familiar or recognized by others.
quelques-uns: Some, a few; an indefinite small number.
ses: His, her, its; possessive adjective, plural.
amis: Friends; people with whom one has a bond.

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