The Republic — Page 2

English → It INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Level 9/10

He was the greatest metaphysical genius whom the world has seen; and in him, more than in any other ancient thinker, the germs of future knowledge are contained.

Egli fu il più grande genio metafisico che il mondo abbia mai visto; e in lui, più che in qualsiasi altro pensatore antico, sono contenuti i germi della conoscenza futura.

The sciences of logic and psychology, which have supplied so many instruments of thought to after-ages, are based upon the analyses of Socrates and Plato.

Le scienze della logica e della psicologia, che hanno fornito tanti strumenti di pensiero alle epoche successive, si fondano sulle analisi di Socrate e Platone.

The principles of definition, the law of contradiction, the fallacy of arguing in a circle, the distinction between the essence and accidents of a thing or notion, between means and ends, between causes and conditions; also the division of the mind into the rational, concupiscent, and irascible elements, or of pleasures and desires into necessary and unnecessary—these and other great forms of thought are all of them to be found in the Republic, and were probably first invented by Plato.

I principi della definizione, la legge della contraddizione, il sofisma del ragionamento circolare, la distinzione tra l'essenza e gli accidenti di una cosa o nozione, tra mezzi e fini, tra cause e condizioni; come pure la divisione della mente negli elementi razionale, concupiscibile e irascibile, o dei piaceri e dei desideri in necessari e non necessari — queste e altre grandi forme di pensiero si trovano tutte nella Repubblica, e furono probabilmente inventate per la prima volta da Platone.

The greatest of all logical truths, and the one of which writers on philosophy are most apt to lose sight, the difference between words and things, has been most strenuously insisted on by him (cp. Rep.; Polit.; Cratyl. 435, 436 ff), although he has not always avoided the confusion of them in his own writings (e.g. Rep.)

La più grande di tutte le verità logiche, e quella che gli scrittori di filosofia sono più inclini a perdere di vista, ossia la differenza tra le parole e le cose, è stata da lui sostenuta con la massima fermezza (cfr. Repubblica; Politico; Cratilo 435, 436 e segg.), sebbene egli non abbia sempre evitato di confonderle nei propri scritti (ad es. Repubblica).

But he does not bind up truth in logical formulae,—logic is still veiled in metaphysics; and the science which he imagines to 'contemplate all truth and all existence' is very unlike the doctrine of the syllogism which Aristotle claims to have discovered (Soph. Elenchi, 33. 18).

Ma egli non racchiude la verità in formule logiche — la logica è ancora velata dalla metafisica; e la scienza che egli immagina intenta a «contemplare tutta la verità e tutta l'esistenza» è ben diversa dalla dottrina del sillogismo che Aristotele afferma di aver scoperto (Soph. Elenchi, 33. 18).

Vocabulary

Egli: EH-lyee — Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
fu: foo — Past tense of 'essere'; meaning 'was' or 'he was'.
il: eel — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
più: pyoo — Adverb or adjective meaning 'more' or 'most'.
grande: GRAHN-deh — Adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'important'.
genio: JEH-nyoh — Noun meaning 'genius' or person of exceptional intellect.
che: keh — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
mondo: MOHN-doh — Noun meaning 'world' or 'universe'.
abbia: AHB-byah — Subjunctive form of 'avere'; meaning 'has' or 'may have'.
mai: mah-ee — Adverb meaning 'ever' or in negatives 'never'.
visto: VEE-stoh — Past participle of 'vedere'; meaning 'seen'.
e: eh — Conjunction meaning 'and'.
in: een — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within'.
lui: loo-ee — Personal pronoun meaning 'him' or 'he'.
qualsiasi: kwahl-ZYAH-zee — Adjective meaning 'any' or 'whatever kind of'.
altro: AHL-troh — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
pensatore: pen-sah-TOH-reh — Noun meaning 'thinker', one who engages in philosophical thought.
antico: ahn-TEE-koh — Adjective meaning 'ancient' or 'old'.
sono: SOH-noh — Present tense of 'essere'; meaning 'are' or 'I am'.
contenuti: kon-teh-NOO-tee — Past participle of 'contenere'; meaning 'contained' or 'included'.
i: ee — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
germi: JEHR-mee — Noun plural meaning 'germs' or 'seeds', here metaphorical origins.
della: DEHL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'.
conoscenza: koh-noh-SHEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'knowledge' or 'understanding'.
futura: foo-TOO-rah — Adjective meaning 'future' or 'yet to come'.
Le: leh — Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
scienze: SHYEN-tseh — Noun plural meaning 'sciences' or fields of systematic knowledge.
logica: LOH-jee-kah — Noun meaning 'logic', the study of valid reasoning.
psicologia: psee-koh-loh-JEE-ah — Noun meaning 'psychology', the study of the mind.
hanno: AHN-noh — Third-person plural of 'avere'; meaning 'they have'.
fornito: fohr-NEE-toh — Past participle of 'fornire'; meaning 'provided' or 'supplied'.
tanti: TAHN-tee — Adjective meaning 'so many' or 'many'.
strumenti: stroo-MEN-tee — Noun plural meaning 'tools' or 'instruments'.
di: dee — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
pensiero: pen-SYEH-roh — Noun meaning 'thought' or 'thinking'.
alle: AHL-leh — Contraction of 'a' and 'le', meaning 'to the' (feminine plural).
epoche: EH-poh-keh — Noun plural meaning 'epochs' or 'historical periods'.
successive: soot-CHES-see-veh — Adjective plural meaning 'subsequent' or 'following'.
si: see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'itself', or impersonal 'one'.
fondano: FOHN-dah-noh — Third-person plural of 'fondarsi'; meaning 'are based' or 'rest on'.
sulle: SOOL-leh — Contraction of 'su' and 'le', meaning 'on the' (feminine plural).
analisi: ah-NAH-lee-zee — Noun meaning 'analyses' or detailed examinations of ideas.
I: ee — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
principi: PREEN-chee-pee — Noun plural meaning 'principles' or foundational rules.
definizione: deh-fee-nee-TSYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'definition', precise explanation of a term.
la: lah — Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
legge: LEH-djeh — Noun meaning 'law' or 'rule'.
contraddizione: kon-trahd-dee-TSYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'contradiction', logical inconsistency between statements.
del: del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the'.
ragionamento: rah-joh-nah-MEN-toh — Noun meaning 'reasoning' or logical argumentation process.
circolare: cheer-koh-LAH-reh — Adjective meaning 'circular', as in circular reasoning or argument.
distinzione: dee-steen-TSYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'distinction' or difference between two things.
tra: trah — Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'.
l': l' — Elided definite article 'lo' or 'la' before a vowel.
essenza: es-SEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'essence', the fundamental nature of something.
gli: lyee — Masculine plural definite article or indirect pronoun meaning 'the' or 'to him'.
una: OO-nah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
cosa: KOH-zah — Noun meaning 'thing' or 'object'.
o: oh — Conjunction meaning 'or'.
nozione: noh-TSYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'notion' or basic concept.
mezzi: MED-dzee — Noun plural meaning 'means' or methods to achieve something.
fini: FEE-nee — Noun plural meaning 'ends' or goals; purposes.
cause: KAH-oo-zeh — Noun plural meaning 'causes' or reasons behind events.
condizioni: kon-dee-TSYOH-nee — Noun plural meaning 'conditions' or circumstances required for something.
come: KOH-meh — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'as', 'how', or 'like'.
pure: POO-reh — Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'even'.
divisione: dee-vee-ZYOH-neh — Noun meaning 'division' or separation into parts.
mente: MEN-teh — Noun meaning 'mind' or intellectual faculty.
negli: NEH-lyee — Contraction of 'in' and 'gli', meaning 'in the' (masculine plural).
elementi: eh-leh-MEN-tee — Noun plural meaning 'elements' or component parts.
razionale: rah-tsyoh-NAH-leh — Adjective meaning 'rational' or governed by reason.
dei: DEH-ee — Contraction of 'di' and 'i', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
piaceri: pyah-CHEH-ree — Noun plural meaning 'pleasures' or enjoyable experiences.
desideri: deh-ZEE-deh-ree — Noun plural meaning 'desires' or wishes.
necessari: neh-ches-SAH-ree — Adjective plural meaning 'necessary' or indispensable.
non: nohn — Adverb of negation meaning 'not'.
queste: KWES-teh — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' (feminine plural).
altre: AHL-treh — Adjective meaning 'other' (feminine plural).
grandi: GRAHN-dee — Adjective plural meaning 'great' or 'important'.
forme: FOHR-meh — Noun plural meaning 'forms' or structural categories.
trovano: TROH-vah-noh — Third-person plural of 'trovare'; meaning 'find' or 'are found'.
tutte: TOOT-teh — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' (feminine plural).
nella: NEL-lah — Contraction of 'in' and 'la', meaning 'in the' (feminine singular).
furono: FOO-roh-noh — Third-person plural past of 'essere'; meaning 'they were'.
probabilmente: proh-bah-beel-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'probably' or 'most likely'.
inventate: een-ven-TAH-teh — Past participle of 'inventare'; meaning 'invented' or 'devised'.
per: pehr — Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'.
prima: PREE-mah — Adjective or adverb meaning 'first' or 'before'.
volta: VOHL-tah — Noun meaning 'time' in the sense of 'occasion' or 'instance'.
da: dah — Preposition meaning 'by', 'from', or 'since'.
La: lah — Feminine definite article meaning 'the', or pronoun 'her'.
le: leh — Feminine plural definite article or indirect pronoun meaning 'the' or 'to her'.
verità: veh-ree-TAH — Noun meaning 'truth' or true statements.
logiche: LOH-jee-keh — Adjective plural meaning 'logical' or based on valid reasoning.
quella: KWEL-lah — Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'that' (feminine singular).
scrittori: skreet-TOH-ree — Noun plural meaning 'writers' or authors.
filosofia: fee-loh-ZOH-fyah — Noun meaning 'philosophy', the study of fundamental questions.
inclini: een-KLEE-nee — Adjective plural meaning 'inclined' or 'prone' to something.
a: ah — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
perdere: PEHR-deh-reh — Verb infinitive meaning 'to lose' or 'to miss'.
vista: VEE-stah — Noun meaning 'sight' or 'view'; also past participle of 'vedere'.
ossia: os-SEE-ah — Conjunction meaning 'that is' or 'in other words'.
differenza: deef-feh-REN-tsah — Noun meaning 'difference' or distinction between two things.
parole: pah-ROH-leh — Noun plural meaning 'words' or spoken expressions.
cose: KOH-zeh — Noun plural meaning 'things' or objects.
è: eh — Third-person singular of 'essere'; meaning 'is'.
stata: STAH-tah — Past participle of 'essere'; meaning 'been' (feminine singular).
sostenuta: soh-steh-NOO-tah — Past participle of 'sostenere'; meaning 'upheld' or 'maintained'.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with'.
massima: MAHS-see-mah — Noun or adjective meaning 'maximum' or 'greatest'.
fermezza: fehr-MED-dzah — Noun meaning 'firmness', steadiness, or resoluteness.
sebbene: seb-BEH-neh — Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
egli: EH-lyee — Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
sempre: SEM-preh — Adverb meaning 'always' or 'ever'.
evitato: eh-vee-TAH-toh — Past participle of 'evitare'; meaning 'avoided'.
confonderle: kon-FOHN-dehr-leh — Infinitive with pronoun; meaning 'to confuse them' or 'to mix them up'.
nei: NEH-ee — Contraction of 'in' and 'i', meaning 'in the' (masculine plural).
propri: PROH-pree — Adjective plural meaning 'own' or 'one's own'.
scritti: SKREET-tee — Noun plural meaning 'writings' or written works.
ad: ahd — Preposition variant of 'a' used before vowels, meaning 'to' or 'at'.
Ma: mah — Conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however'.
racchiude: rahk-KYOO-deh — Third-person singular of 'racchiudere'; meaning 'contains' or 'encloses'.
formule: FOHR-moo-leh — Noun plural meaning 'formulas' or set expressions.
ancora: ahn-KOH-rah — Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'.
velata: veh-LAH-tah — Adjective meaning 'veiled' or hidden behind something.
dalla: DAHL-lah — Contraction of 'da' and 'la', meaning 'from the' (feminine singular).
scienza: SHYEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'science' or systematic knowledge.
immagina: eem-MAH-jee-nah — Third-person singular of 'immaginare'; meaning 'imagines' or 'conceives'.
intenta: een-TEN-tah — Adjective meaning 'intent' or focused on a task.
contemplare: kon-tem-PLAH-reh — Verb infinitive meaning 'to contemplate' or 'to observe thoughtfully'.
tutta: TOOT-tah — Adjective meaning 'all' or 'entire' (feminine singular).
esistenza: eh-sees-TEN-tsah — Noun meaning 'existence' or the state of being.
ben: ben — Adverb meaning 'well' or 'very', shortened form of 'bene'.
diversa: dee-VEHR-sah — Adjective meaning 'different' or 'distinct' (feminine singular).
dottrina: dot-TREE-nah — Noun meaning 'doctrine' or established body of teachings.
afferma: ahf-FEHR-mah — Third-person singular of 'affermare'; meaning 'affirms' or 'claims'.
aver: ah-VEHR — Shortened infinitive of 'avere'; meaning 'to have'.
scoperto: skoh-PEHR-toh — Past participle of 'scoprire'; meaning 'discovered' or 'found'.

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