https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/social-science-sociology-ethics-etc/5492278-logiques-du-vivant.html&phpv_redirected=1
This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
point de terminaison
housse / étui / coque
Mar 6, 2014 19:02
10 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

logiques du vivant

French to English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Biology
Part of a paper (FR to EN UK) I am translating is about societal transformation on the basis of "le paradigme scientifco-technique".

It gives a list of impacts or consequences, one of which is as follows:

"Compréhension des logiques du vivant qui favorise leur saisie technique via les biotechnologies et en particulier le développement de la biologie de synthèse"

I understand that the biologist François Jacob wrote a seminal book called "La Logique du Vivant" (singular), "The logic of Life" in English, and wonder if the phrase is (always) a reference to this work? Also, when used in the plural, as here, does anyone have any experience/idea of how it could be translated?

I hope I've given you enough information. Thank you in advance.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 living things and systems
3 the principle of living things
3 biological concepts
3 the logics underpinning living things
2 genomic imperative

Discussion

Joanna Coryn (X) (asker) Mar 11, 2014:
Dear Answerers, I'm really sorry not to have awarded points yet, I am waiting to find out which answer was selected by the client, as I found most of them convincing and feel unable to make a judgement. In the meantime, your answers were very helpful and I know they will be to others who come across this expression.
Melissa McMahon Mar 6, 2014:
Writer a biologist? There's a long French tradition of the philosophy of the "life sciences" (Bergson, Canguilhem) - I think "logiques du vivant" has more to do with the modus operandi and science of living things as opposed to, eg. mathematics, especially if the writer is a social scientist. Is he/she critical of the new "paradigme"?
DLyons Mar 6, 2014:
I very much doubt if it is always a reference to Jacob's work (which dealt with pre-Mendelian studies of heredity). Indeed, here it looks more like a nod in that general direction.

From the limited context, it looks something like the technological imperative, neoevolutionism, ...

Proposed translations

+2
3 hrs
Selected

living things and systems

"An understanding of living things and systems that favours a technological approach through biotechnologies and in particular the development of synthetic biology"

I take "les logiques du vivant" as simply picking out the object of the life sciences - living things and systems. I don't think "logiques" needs a specific translation: by definition science considers the "logique" of its objects, ie how it works, and it's more than clear that this is about living things as scientific objects.

It seems to be a familiar comment on the disjunction/ethical problems with living things/systems and the technico-scientific paradigm, especially with the emergence of things like genetic engineering (part of synthetic biology).









Peer comment(s):
agree Jocelyne S : I've often used "living beings" or "living matter" for "le/du vivant", too.
17 hrs
Thanks Jocelyne!
agree John Holland
225 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
2 hrs

genomic imperative

Obviously, a very non-literal translation. But, if I'm understanding the text, this is more-or-less what's intended. See e.g. "The Selfish Gene".
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

the principle of living things

References Aristotle. (Or "the life principle" if you prefer Madam Blavatsky.)

green.wikia.com/wiki/Life‎
... the principle of living things that causes them to function as a living thing. ..... the broad redefinition and expansion of biotechnology, with the ultimate goals of ...

www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?cat=1&paged=2‎
The principle of living things as being autonomous agents – able to sense .... the biological realm, as demanded by biomedicine and biotechnology, presents a ...

article.wn.com/.../LabCentral_Signs_New_Agreement_in_Support_of_Li...‎
4 Dec 2013 - ... of Organic and Biochemistry"; BIO120 "Introduction to Biotechnology"; ..... he used the term to mean the principle of living things that causes ...



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2014-03-06 23:43:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note that the title of the article in the 2nd citation above is "What would a truly synthetic biology look like?" The "principle of living things" seems to be frequently associated with synthetic biology. Unfortunately, it is also associated with some religious pseudoscience.
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

biological concepts

Why not make it simple ? After all, "Logiques du vivant" is only a catch phrase in French.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

the logics underpinning living things

In a sociological text I translated I originally put 'reasoning' for every mention of 'logiques' to be told by the sociologist that logic and logics were acceptable terms in the social sciences. I think you can have multiple logics that underpin how biological life functions.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2014-03-07 07:58:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'logics underpinning biological life'
Peer comment(s):
neutral B D Finch : Yes, "logic" and "logics" are acceptable terms in social science, but in this case I think "logique" is better translated as "principles" because "logics" are rather less substantive and more hypothetical.
2 days 3 hrs
Something went wrong...