scholarly journals Introduction: The agents, acts and attitudes of supererogation

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Cowley
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Philosophical Discussion ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Philosophical Debates ◽  
Technical Terms

I confess to finding the term ‘supererogation’ ugly and unpronounceable. I am also generally suspicious of technical terms in moral philosophy, since they are vulnerable to self-serving definition and counter-definition, to the point of obscuring whether there is a single phenomenon about which to disagree. It was surely not accidental that J.O. Urmson, in his classic 1958 article that launched the contemporary Anglophone debate, eschewed the technical term in favour of the more familiar concepts of saints and heroes. Since then, however, the term Supererogation has bedded down to encompass a number of more or less clear-cut philosophical debates, one of which concerns precisely the extent to which saintliness and heroism exhaust the supererogatory. And it has to be admitted that the word ‘saint’ has certain theological connotations that might be misleading in a secular philosophical discussion (in this volume, only Wynn and Drummond-Young invoke theological ideas), while the word ‘hero’ has potentially limiting associations with knights and soldiers and other forms of testosterone-driven accomplishment.

An “Orthodox” Use of the Term “Beautiful”

Philosophy ◽  
1960 ◽  
Vol 35 (133) ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
G. P. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Philosophical Question ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Philosophical Discussion ◽  
Works Of Art ◽  
Ordinary Conversation ◽  
Art Critics

The word “beautiful” plays a surprisingly unimportant part in the language of sophisticated artistic appreciation; I mean in the informed criticism and comparison of specific works of art. Though in ordinary conversation it can be used naturally and easily, it does not serve readily as a technical term in expert writing or discussion. To become a technical term of this kind it would have to be definable, and definable in terms which commanded sufficient agreement: but attempts to define “beauty” and “beautiful” may well have become restrained by the popularity of philosophical discussion about the significance of these words. No philosophical question is discussed more commonly or from more firmly held opposite positions than the question whether beauty is “objective” or not. Discussion of this and related topics, however, not being the monopoly of professed philosophers but being familiar amongst artists and art critics themselves, tends to remove all shadow of technicality from the crucial terms discussed. Other terms come to serve for the “objective” features of works of art, and others again for the impressions which works of art may make upon us: “beauty” and “beautiful” tend to fall away between these two classes.

scholarly journals Yin-Yang Theory, the Human Organism, and the Bai hu tong: A Need for Pairing and Explaining

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38
Author(s):  
Paul U. Unschuld
Keyword(s):  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Complex Issue ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Natural Categories ◽  
Yin Yang ◽  
Yin And Yang ◽  
Term Storage ◽  
Physiological Theory ◽  
Technical Terms

AbstractThis paper discusses some terminological consequences of the acceptance of a seemingly all-pervasive yin yang dualism by ancient Chinese naturalists, with a focus on the origin of certain technical terms introduced to designate morphological and functional items in the emerging Chinese medicine. These terms were selected from words not originally linked to morphological and physiological notions. They served as metaphors to illustrate both function and the yin yang nature of the items they were chosen to designate. How to translate these terms into Western languages is a complex issue not sufficiently discussed among philologists.In 79 CE, the historian Ban Gu (32‐92) published the Bai hu tong , based on contributions by an unknown number of participants in one of the first documented meetings of intellectuals in antiquity. Chapter 8 offers a discourse on the meaning of qing , ‘emotion’, and xing , ‘moral disposition’. Two terms were available that had been in long use in this arena of meanings, albeit without a clear-cut distinction along the lines of a Yin-Yang categorisation. No metaphors were required here. Rather, a redefinition of qing and xing was required to assign a yang nature to the former and a yin nature to the latter.The Bai hu tong is a telling example of a continuing heterogeneity of explanatory models in early Chinese life sciences. The following discussion offers an impression of the merger of what may originally have been a neutral attempt at a dualistic categorisation of all phenomena in terms of two natural categories of yin and yang with another doctrine. The second clearly valued yang phenomena more highly than yin phenomena and applied this distinction to more and less desirable moral categories. Also, the Bai hu tong offers evidence of different metaphorical usages of the term fu in physiological theory from as early as Han times. To the older meaning: ‘short-term storage facility’ a second meaning of ‘palace’ was added. The question of an adequate translation of such terms in modern languages is worth further thought.1

scholarly journals Harmoni Bahasa dari Persfektif Penerjemahan dalam Kasus Pemadanan Istilah Teknis

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Muhamad Nur
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Writing System ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Electronic Library ◽  
The Awakening ◽  
Concept Definition ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Data Source ◽  
General Translation ◽  
Technical Terms

The language harmony in this study is oriented to the idea of the awakening of sincronized or similar object, concept, definition and term in relation to the terms adoption strategy by a general translation from one language to another (donor by recipient language). Terms are important pillars in the science systems that they must have the same meaning for everyone using it so the information exchange will obtain a good result. Thus, through a general consensus on meanings, names and specific terms along with the usages consistently will result in the uniformity of a special vocabulary containing the standard concepts, terms and definitions. The data collecting method is by browsing electronic library (e-lib) with data source taken as samples such as (1) Phonological adaptation of borrowed terms in Duramazwi reMimhanzi, (2) Translation journal of translation procedures, strategies and methods, (3) Are there connections between English and Romanian terminology in Medicine?, (4) Third-year students’ difficulties in translating computing terms from English into Arabic, (5) Studying Loanwords and Loanword Integration: Two Criteria of confirmity. The analysis is conducting by observing phonological aspects phenomenon (concerning pronunciation system) and orthographic aspect (concerning writing system). Based on these data, it is shown that the technical term equivalence strategy is conducted through the adjustment of sound and the foreign writing system (donor language) with changes based on the phonological system according to the pronunciation and the orthography system of a language (recipient language). The strategy is an attempt to maintain the full meaning of the concept contained in the terms of a language which meaning is not revealed in other languages in order to establish harmony or similarity of vision in the context of the use of the term to build language harmony among language speakers or users. Abstrak Istilah merupakan sendi penting di dalam sistem ilmu pengetahuan, harus mempunyai makna yang sama bagi semua orang yang menggunakannya, agar pertukaran informasi memperoleh hasil yang baik, maka melalui kesepakatan umum tentang makna, nama dan istilah khusus serta penggunaannya secara konsisten akan menghasilkan keseragaman suatu kosa kata khusus yang memuat konsep, istilah, dan definisinya yang baku. Artikel ini merupakan hasil kajian bidang penerjemahan tentang suatu pendekatan yang terkait dengan peristilahan, khususnya istilah teknis (technical terms). Sejumlah pendekatan yang dapat disajikan adalah sebagai alternatif dengan mengacu pada prinsip-prinsip kesamaan konsep antara bahasa sumber dan bahasa target (donor and recipient language). Data dalam kajian ini diperoleh melalui akses internet (online) untuk memperoleh jurnal, artikel dan referensi lain yang mengkaji masalah peristilahan dan aspek-aspek linguistik secara tekstual yang berorientasi pada bidang penerjemahan. Hasil dari kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa bentuk interakasi di antara berbagai bahasa dalam bidang penerjemahan, khususnya menyangkut istilah teknis dapat dilakukan dengan pendekatan penyesuaian aspek kebahasaan atau kaidah linguistik bahasa donor menurut aspek atau kaidah kebahasaan bahasa penerima (recipient language). Hal ini dilakukan adalah sebagai upaya untuk mempertahankan makna konsep yang dimiliki bahasa donor di satu sisi, dan upaya menyesuaikan aspek atau kaidah linguistik menurut bahasa penerima di sisi lain. Dengan demikian, harmoni bahasa dapat terbangun bagi penutur atau pengguna bahasa di antara komunitas bangsa itu sendiri.

Autonomy beyond Voluntarism: In Defense of Hierarchy

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefaan E. Cuypers
Keyword(s):  
Daily Life ◽  
The Other ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
The One ◽  
Technical Terms

We haveconflictingpre-philosophical intuitions about what it means ‘to be true to ourselves.’ On the one hand, autonomy and authenticity seem closely connected to the lucidity of reflectiveness; on the other, they seem tightly interwoven with the immediacy of unreflectiveness. As opposed to a ‘Platonic’ intuition about the inferiority of the unexamined life, we have an equally strong ‘Nietzschean’ intuition about the corrosiveness of the examined life. Broadly speaking, the first intuition is more akin to the tradition of the Enlightenment, and the second, more to that of Romanticism; the one is reminiscent of Descartes and Hume, the other of Rousseau and Herder.The use of the technical term ‘autonomy’ and the concomitant term ‘self’ is primarily limited to philosophy, while in daily life ‘freedom’ and ‘person,’ respectively, are used instead. Unfortunately, in their deployment of these technical terms philosophers have generally failed to acknowledge the two modes of ‘being true to ourselves’ associated with the Enlightenment and Romanticism, for they usually employ the concept of autonomy in a unitary way.

scholarly journals Is Applied Ethics Morally Problematic?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Franz
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Applied Ethics ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Ethical Criticism ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Deontological Ethics ◽  
Self Image

AbstractThis paper argues that applied ethics can itself be morally problematic. As illustrated by the case of Peter Singer’s criticism of social practice, morally loaded communication by applied ethicists can lead to protests, backlashes, and aggression. By reviewing the psychological literature on self-image, collective identity, and motivated reasoning three categories of morally problematic consequences of ethical criticism by applied ethicists are identified: serious psychological discomfort, moral backfiring, and hostile conflict. The most worrisome is moral backfiring: psychological research suggests that ethical criticism of people’s central moral convictions can reinforce exactly those attitudes. Therefore, applied ethicists unintentionally can contribute to a consolidation of precisely those social circumstances that they condemn to be unethical. Furthermore, I argue that the normative concerns raised in this paper are not dependent on the commitment to one specific paradigm in moral philosophy. Utilitarianism, Aristotelian virtue ethics, and Rawlsian contractarianism all provide sound reasons to take morally problematic consequences of ethical criticism seriously. Only the case of deontological ethics is less clear-cut. Finally, I point out that the issues raised in this paper provide an excellent opportunity for further interdisciplinary collaboration between applied ethics and social sciences. I also propose strategies for communicating ethics effectively.

scholarly journals The Semantics and Translation of Technical Terms: A Case Study on Ἀπόστολος

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ben Kuwitzky
Keyword(s):  
Focused Attention ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Cultural Group ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
Diachronic Study ◽  
Deep Integration ◽  
Linguistic Classification ◽  
Technical Terms

Key biblical terms present one of the greatest challenges in Bible translation, due in part to their theological significance and deep integration with the biblical cultures in which they were used. This paper posits that a linguistic study of technical terms, a linguistic classification that has not received much focused attention, reveals useful insights that can be applied to the translation of key biblical terms. Drawing from both classical and cognitive models, it presents an overview of the semantic features of technical terms, namely their linkage to discrete categories and exclusivity to a particular cultural group. Important diachronic and pragmatic considerations are also discussed. A case study on the Greek word ἀπόστολος provides application to the theory presented, arguing that a diachronic study of the technical category’s origins influences an understanding of the concept, and providing an overview of the category structure. Finally, some practical suggestions for the translation of this term are provided, positing that longer-term strategies are necessary for the fullest understanding of a technical term.

scholarly journals The Role of Metaphor in Technical Term-Formation

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1 (15)) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
Hasmik Ghajoyan
Keyword(s):  
Human Mind ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Contemporary Approach ◽  
Technical Terms

Nowadays metaphor is not considered to be a solely literary expressive means. The human mind is both rational and emotional. In terms we both think and act, it is fundamentally metaphorical in nature. Today this idea has gained so wide an acknowledgement that it can be the basis of the contemporary approach to metaphor study. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of terminological metaphor in one specialized field of language, in the process of technical term-formation. The focus is on the field of computing and the respective conclusion that metaphorical transfer is a key process in the formation of technical terms in electronics and information teclmologies.

The Significance of Tendencies and Intentions in the Moral Philosophy of J. S. Mill

Utilitas ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
VILLE KILKKU
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Technical Terms

I will argue that Mill used the concepts tendency and intention as technical terms a proper understanding of which is vital in interpreting his moral philosophy. I examine two interpretations of tendency, offered by Brian Cupples and Fred Berger, and proceed to show weaknesses in both. I will also sketch an interpretation of my own in which tendencies have an important place in Mill's understanding of not only science but moral philosophy as well. I will then show how my interpretation of tendency can help in understanding Mill's foreseeable consequences utilitarianism that relies heavily on Mill's unorthodox use of the notion of intention.

scholarly journals الإشارة والعبارة وأثـرها في تحديد المصطلحات الصوفية

Fenomena ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-161
Author(s):  
Nur Hadi Ihsan ◽  
Muhammad Ishommudin
Keyword(s):  
Personal Knowledge ◽  
Intuitive Knowledge ◽  
Technical Term ◽  
Scientific Standard ◽  
Technical Terms ◽  
The Way

This study will analyze the use of the 'al-Isyārah' and 'al-Ibārah' diction in the perspective Sufi expressions of Ibn Athāillah as-Sakandary, as well as analyzing the influence of the diction on the technical terms in the discipline of Sufism. The technical term used by Sufis in their books has been criticized by ulama from other disciplines, because Sufis use technical terms that are rarely used and seem strange. Sufis prefer a cryptic language called 'isyārah', but in some cases they also use a clear language commonly called'al-Ibārah'. Ibn Athāillah (d. 709 h) has an interesting description of this topic and places it proportionally. Both ‘isyārah’ and ‘ibārah’ are basically a form of method for expressing intuitive knowledge about the secrets of God. ' al-Ibārah' can be used if a Sufi does have certain capabilities. Also, it can be used as a form of education for the sālik. Apart from these two things, a Sufi can express it with 'al-Isyārah' and 'rumziyyah' or choose to store it as personal knowledge. The way this disclosure impacts the technical terms used. Sufis choose metaphorical or technical expressions that differ from philosophical, kalam or tasawuf traditions. Thus, despite using such expressions, their technical term does not come out of the scientific standard.

scholarly journals Les orateurs de «La Pléiade» à l'Académie du Palais (1576): étude d'un album manuscrit ayant appartenu à Marguerite de Valois

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-42
Author(s):  
François Rouget
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Women Poets ◽  
Intellectual Curiosity ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Philosophical Debates

According to contemporary observers, in the years from 1576 to 1579 Henry III brought together groups of orators-men and women, poets and courtiers-to discuss questions of moral philosophy. This happened both in Paris, and in provincial towns such as Blois and Ollainville. Several of the speeches given by these diverse orators remain extant. Among the spectators was Marguerite de Valois, who ordered the transcription of thirteen speeches that were pronounced during the January-February period of 1576. This album, preserved in a beautifully-bound manuscript, provides an interesting testimony to the intellectual curiosity of Marguerite and to the abiding interest of the king and his court in the domain of eloquence. The present article describes the context in which Marguerite de Valois participated in the first sessions of the Palace Academy, and presents the manuscript volume containing several, palpable traces of her reading of the texts. It also evaluates the contribution of some poets from Marguerite's entourage, such as Ronsard, Desportes, Baïf and Jamyn, and examines aspects of their philosophical debates as well as their oratorical skills.

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