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de la métaphysique

English translation: about metaphysics/a matter of metaphysics

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:de la métaphysique
English translation:about metaphysics/a matter of metaphysics
Entered by: Barbara Cochran, MFA

15:50 Jul 6, 2021
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Philosophy
French term or phrase: de la métaphysique
From an academic text on mid-nineteenth century French philosophy:

Certes, Renan reconnaît comme légitime la volonté de donner de la précision à la philosophie, et il parle de Dieu comme d’un idéal nécessaire ; l’infini, l’absolu, ne sont pas des « chimères », mais des notions indispensables ; toutefois ce n'est pas « de la métaphysique » comme science première des principes.

It's about this article:

https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/De_la_Métaphysique_et_son_ave...

What I don't quite get is 1) whys it in quotes - is it a reference to the title? 2) If it isn't, what does "de la" refer to? notions indispensables?
tatyana000
Local time: 16:07
about metaphysics/a matter of metaphysics
Explanation:
>>>
Selected response from:

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 10:07
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +9about metaphysics/a matter of metaphysics
Barbara Cochran, MFA
4 +1this is not (/doesn't belong to /is not part of) "metaphysics"
Daryo


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +9
"de la métaphysique"
about metaphysics/a matter of metaphysics


Explanation:
>>>

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 10:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  liz askew
1 hr
  -> Thank you, liz.
agree  Domini Lucas
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Domini.
agree  Frank Gerace
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Frank.
agree  SafeTex: I like "a matter of" which could also be translated as "in the realm of"
13 hrs
  -> Thank you, SafeTex.
agree  Iuliia Vinitchenko
16 hrs
  -> Thanks, Iulia.
agree  ormiston: A matter of works nicely (the quotation marks could mean metaphysics 'as such')
16 hrs
  -> Thank you, ormiston.
agree  Katarina Peters
21 hrs
  -> Thanks, Katarina.
agree  Samuël Buysschaert
23 hrs
  -> Thank you, Samuel.
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne
1 day 21 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ce n'est pas « de la métaphysique »
this is not (/doesn't belong to /is not part of) "metaphysics"


Explanation:
Certes, Renan reconnaît comme légitime la volonté de donner de la précision à la philosophie, et il parle de Dieu comme d’un idéal nécessaire ; l’infini, l’absolu, ne sont pas des « chimères », mais des notions indispensables ; toutefois ce n'est pas « de la métaphysique » comme science première des principes.

=>

these concepts:

l’infini, l’absolu

[are "real" and we can't do without them]

but nevertheless they are not (/don't belong to /are not part of) "metaphysics" [the kind of "metaphysics"] seen as, interpreted as the primary/fundamental science of principles.



same as the assertion

"there are 3 primary colours"

is not (/doesn't belong to /is not part of) say "geography"




Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:07
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  SafeTex: To make this work nicely in English, you should have said "this is not in the realm of...". Your suggestion is missing that true English touch.
5 hrs
  -> What did you expect? Some tribute act to "Exercices de style"????
agree  Melissa McMahon: Yes, simply "this isn't "metaphysics"" (without "about"/"a matter of" etc) is fine I think
10 hrs
  -> That part is only a list of synonyms added for clarification. Thanks!
agree  Carol Gullidge: ..., but without either of "doesn't belong to /is not part of"
10 hrs
  -> That part is only a list of synonyms added for clarification. Thanks!
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