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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

erkenntnisleitend

English translation:

illuminating / revelatory / in the quest for new or more knowledge / [the] central [question]

Added to glossary by Helen Shiner
May 15, 2009 09:04
14 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

erkenntnisleitend

German to English Social Sciences Philosophy Kant
I am struggling to find a suitable translation for this word and I would be grateful for any help. It appears in the following passage from a text on philosophical anthropology:

Schließlich bleibt für Kant aber noch eine den Menschen ganz wesentlich auszeichnende Eigenschaft, deren Analyse der Transzendentalphilosophie vorbehalten bleiben soll: sie betrachtet den Menschen als Vernunftwesen und als autonome (und moralische) Person. Hier lautet die erkenntnisleitende Frage, „[...] was er [der Mensch] als freihandelndes Wesen aus sich selbst macht, oder machen kann oder soll“.

I should add that my client prefers me to use 'knowledge' for 'Erkenntnis', though in this case I imagine I will have to re-jig the phrase in which it appears.
Proposed translations (English)
3 in the quest for new or more knowledge
4 central question
3 the enlightening question
References
learned discourse
a question of particular/central importance (for acquiring the knowledge sought)
Change log

May 26, 2009 13:04: Helen Shiner changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/882779">Helen Shiner's</a> old entry - "erkenntnisleitend"" to ""illuminating / revelatory / in the quest for new or more knowledge""

Discussion

maja.freelan (X) May 26, 2009:
Helen no problem about the points, I'm just happy I could help you out. lg
Lirka May 15, 2009:
If your client wants knowledge, then say "knowledge-imparting" ( see my answer and note)
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
Thanks, HMG have a lovely weekend, too.
hazmatgerman (X) May 15, 2009:
conceded as far as h.s. and m.j. argue about "issue". Thanks and have a prosperous weekend.
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
Maja You've all helped to confirm the meaning for me, for which I am very grateful, even if the 'right' translation, if such a thing exists, still evades me!
maja.freelan (X) May 15, 2009:
It's ok Helen I just wanted to help you. Sometimes it's difficult to translate from DE>EN. Hope you'll get that one right:)
maja.freelan (X) May 15, 2009:
Hatmatgerman I also don't quite agree with you that "issue" is inappropriate in this context. I would even say that it's better to use it in this context than "question".
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
Maja You are right in terms of meaning, it is just that that doesn't sound too good in EN. It is probably a case of GER putting far more meaning in a word than can be rendered successfully in EN. No criticism of you!
maja.freelan (X) May 15, 2009:
I have already posted it as a note, but I'll write it here as well: "The Central question that leads to the knowledge of.." or it could also be like hazmat suggested: ""The dominant question in the pursuit of knowledge"
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
Hazmatgerman Well, it looks as if 'illuminating' or 'revelatory' would be the best way forward, though the latter sounds somewhat mystical so I might avoid that. Don't really agree with you on the subject of 'issue' in an academic context, though it does have the meaning you ascribe to it elsewhere. But regardless thanks very much for your help and time, too.
hazmatgerman (X) May 15, 2009:
@h.s. issue no as it lacks the fundamentally moral/human connotation and sounds like s.th. just put up for debate. Defining has an exclusivity which I do not see in the German source. "erkenntnisleitend" claims the most promising though not the only way to grokking man's aims. A combination of "illuminating" and "revelation"perhaps?
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
or what about 'the defining question'? Although it is not quite the same, since it is retrospective and the German is not, I think this might be what academics would say to claim that this is the key contribution to a particular discourse or debate.
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
Maybe 'the central illuminating question/issue'?
Helen Shiner (asker) May 15, 2009:
maja and hazmatgerman I understand the term to mean 'bringing of knowledge', which clearly I cannot use literally. I was wondering, however, whether 'illuminating' might work. So far it is the nearest I can get.
hazmatgerman (X) May 15, 2009:
Erkenntnisleitend heißt für mich: zu einer Erkenntnis führend bezogen auf eine Frage, und zwar im Kontext zu lesen als "DIE" Frage schlechthin. Mit knowledge wäre dann z.B. "the question towering above all others in the quest for knowledge" denkbar, plus n.s. polishing. Or perhaps "The dominant question in the pursuit of knowledge ..." for a variant.

Proposed translations

39 mins
Selected

in the quest for new or more knowledge

The question(s) to be asked in the quest for new (or should I say more?) knowledge would be: « How will man as a free being put his life to good use, how can he acomplish this or what, after all, is he supposed to do with his life?"

In my opinion this is an a, b, and c question or three questions...

I am almost tempted to say "revelation" in lieu of knowledge, but since your client want's knowledge...
Note from asker:
Thanks, Martin. Yes, I've tried perception and apprehension and similar things, but my clients insists. I think I would like to circumnavigate it here. Do you think 'the central defining question/issue' would work?
Peer comment(s):
neutral hazmatgerman (X) : Concerning "knowledge" but I like "revelation" here.
18 mins
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I still have not heard from my client in respect of this particular term. I gave him the option of illuminating/revelatory, and somewhat against my will, knowledge-imparting. Thanks to you all for all your help."
33 mins

central question

Depending on the context that's how I would translate it. In this context knowledge for Erkenntnis doesn't match. Maybe you should also explain that to your outsourcer:)

Regards,
Maja

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-05-15 10:16:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You are welcome Helen. Maybe it could be "the central question that leads to the knowledge of..."
Reference:

http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=144102&idForum=1&lp=ende&lang=de

Note from asker:
Thanks, Maja. Yes, I've had this debate with my client - perception, apprehension, etc., but he wants knowledge. In actual fact, I will probably exclude it here anyway. What do you think about the 'central defining issue/question'? Do you think that matches the GER well enough?
Just to let you know, my client and I finally settled on 'the central question' after all. Too late to do anything about points - the Kudoz system just wouldn't wait, but thank you anyhow. I'm happy with this solution since it just sounds more natural.
Peer comment(s):
neutral hazmatgerman (X) : Not commenting on "central" but supporting your view that "knowledge" here may be inappropriate; how about cognizance?
4 mins
congnizance is to take knowledge from something...perception, awareness, realization... yes it could be.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

the enlightening question

perhaps that could fit in the context?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2009-05-15 21:35:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or even KNOWLEDGE-IMPARTING or ILLUMINATING
Note from asker:
Thanks, lirka; I've sent the text off to my client with a list of suggestions. My favourite remains 'illuminating' which you will see I proposed earlier today. I have added 'knowledge-imparting', just in case he absolutely insists, since it gets the meaning across, but I do think 'illuminating' or possibly 'revelatory' is more elegant. I'm really grateful for your assistance - you've clearly really comprehended the problem facing me and come up with some great suggestions.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

37 mins
Reference:

learned discourse

Dear H.S.: you may find this article helpful. Regards.
Reference:

http://www.weknow.ch/aqm/berlin2000/Talk000326.html

Something went wrong...
16 hrs
Reference:

a question of particular/central importance (for acquiring the knowledge sought)

a late entry:)

Links below see it as
the question that is chosen as most efficient/most important in order to gain /acquire (the) knowledge (sought), thus the question that is guiding the quest for knowledge, or the guiding question for knowledge-acquisition.

http://fh-web1.informatik.fh-wiesbaden.de/go.cfm/fb/11/lpid/...
Welche Fragestellung wählen Sie aus einem größeren Themenkomplex aus...


http://www.v-r.de/en/items/389971530/
Erkenntnisleitend war die Frage nach der politischen Funktion dieser Ansätze.
Of particular importance was the question of the political function of these approaches.

possibly: ...of central importance
Note from asker:
Thanks, Bernhard, yes, the meaning is clear now. Thanks for confirming it. I imagine this is one of those phrases that turns up in one language while academics in another use another formulation altogether. If the quote hadn't been part of the sentence, I would have been a little freer in my translation of it. It is all about the key contribution of his work being expressed in a nutshell (also not academic-speak!). I'll let you all know what my Professor decides.
Something went wrong...
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