A view of Para. no. 9
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:44 pm
One of my favorite aphorisms in the Organon is number nine.
I recently obtained a copy of the first English translation done by
Devrient in Dublin in 1833. It is of the 4th edition. While there IS
a Paragraph 9, it is not the one we know. The one we know was added
to the 5th edition. The first English translation of no. 9
therefore, was done by Hering when the Allentown Academy Bookstore
issued the Organon in 1836. It was taken from the 4th by Devrient
with additions from the 5th added by Hering.
So... in 1836,(the first English of the 5th) Hering translated it as:
In the healthy condition of man, the immaterial vital principle which
animates the material body, exercises an absolute sway and maintains
all parts in the most admirable order and harmony, both of sensation
and action, so that our indwelling rational spirit may freely employ
these living, health organs for the superior purposes of our
existence.
In 1849, Dudgeon had it as:
In the healthy condition of man, the spiritual vital force
(autocracy) the dynamis that animates the material body (organism),
rules with unbounded sway and retains all parts of the organism in
admirable and harmonious, vital operation as regards both sensations
and functions, so that our indwelling reason-gifted mind can freely
employ this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our
existence.
In 1876 Wesselhoeft had it as:
During the healthy condition of man this spirit-like force
(autocracy) animating the material body (organism) rules supreme as
*dynamis*. By it all parts are maintained wonderfully in harmonious
vital process, both in feelings and functions, in order that our
intelligent mind may be free to make the living, healthy, bodily
medium subservient to our higher purposes of being.
In 1880, Fincke has it as:
In the healthy state of man the spirit-like life force (autocracy)
which as dynamis vivifies the material body (organic) rules
absolutely and holds all its parts in admirably harmonic course of
life in sensations and activities, that our in-dwelliong rational
spirit can freely use this living sound instrument for the higher end
of our being.
In 1980, Kunzli has it as:
In the state of health the spirit-like vital force (dynamis)
animating the human organism reigns in supreme sovereignty. It
maintains the sensations and activities of all the parts of the
living organism in a harmony that obligers wonderment. The reasoning
spirit who inhabits the organism can thus freely use this healthy
living instrument to reach the lofty goals of human existence.
Finally, in 1996, Decker/ O'Reilly had it as:
In the healthy human state the spirit-like life force (autocracy)
that enlivens the material organism as dynamis, governs without
restriction and keeps all parts of the body in admirable,
harmonious, vital operation as regards both feelings and functions,
so that our indwelling rational spirit can freely avail itself of
this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our
existence.
All very interesting. Small differences although they all say the
same thing... But are they small? "immaterial vital principle,"
"spiritual vital force," "spirit-like life force" all can been seen
to mean slightly different things...
JW
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I recently obtained a copy of the first English translation done by
Devrient in Dublin in 1833. It is of the 4th edition. While there IS
a Paragraph 9, it is not the one we know. The one we know was added
to the 5th edition. The first English translation of no. 9
therefore, was done by Hering when the Allentown Academy Bookstore
issued the Organon in 1836. It was taken from the 4th by Devrient
with additions from the 5th added by Hering.
So... in 1836,(the first English of the 5th) Hering translated it as:
In the healthy condition of man, the immaterial vital principle which
animates the material body, exercises an absolute sway and maintains
all parts in the most admirable order and harmony, both of sensation
and action, so that our indwelling rational spirit may freely employ
these living, health organs for the superior purposes of our
existence.
In 1849, Dudgeon had it as:
In the healthy condition of man, the spiritual vital force
(autocracy) the dynamis that animates the material body (organism),
rules with unbounded sway and retains all parts of the organism in
admirable and harmonious, vital operation as regards both sensations
and functions, so that our indwelling reason-gifted mind can freely
employ this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our
existence.
In 1876 Wesselhoeft had it as:
During the healthy condition of man this spirit-like force
(autocracy) animating the material body (organism) rules supreme as
*dynamis*. By it all parts are maintained wonderfully in harmonious
vital process, both in feelings and functions, in order that our
intelligent mind may be free to make the living, healthy, bodily
medium subservient to our higher purposes of being.
In 1880, Fincke has it as:
In the healthy state of man the spirit-like life force (autocracy)
which as dynamis vivifies the material body (organic) rules
absolutely and holds all its parts in admirably harmonic course of
life in sensations and activities, that our in-dwelliong rational
spirit can freely use this living sound instrument for the higher end
of our being.
In 1980, Kunzli has it as:
In the state of health the spirit-like vital force (dynamis)
animating the human organism reigns in supreme sovereignty. It
maintains the sensations and activities of all the parts of the
living organism in a harmony that obligers wonderment. The reasoning
spirit who inhabits the organism can thus freely use this healthy
living instrument to reach the lofty goals of human existence.
Finally, in 1996, Decker/ O'Reilly had it as:
In the healthy human state the spirit-like life force (autocracy)
that enlivens the material organism as dynamis, governs without
restriction and keeps all parts of the body in admirable,
harmonious, vital operation as regards both feelings and functions,
so that our indwelling rational spirit can freely avail itself of
this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our
existence.
All very interesting. Small differences although they all say the
same thing... But are they small? "immaterial vital principle,"
"spiritual vital force," "spirit-like life force" all can been seen
to mean slightly different things...
JW
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
