Tagged "Literature"

Translation is a necessary cog in the wheel of a world where we have to operate with a multiplicity of languages. However, in spite of its recent ubiquity, we typically forget that translation is as much an art, as it is a science. As an art, it has a subjective side. Although this can be freeing with certain texts, it often leads to imprecision in others. I’ve come across this most recently while reading George Long’s translation of “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius¹. “Meditations” was originally written in Koine Greek which was in use around 2000 years ago, most famously in the New Testament². In “Meditations” there is constant reference to “universal reason” and “universe”³. As it turns out, in the original, Aurelius uses “λόγος” (logos) and “κοσμος” (cosmos)⁴ respectively⁵.

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by American author Philip K. Dick is known for a multitude of reasons; aside from the combined science fiction prevalence and influence of its great film adaptation, as well as general critical acclaim, it is a deep novel with a multitude of advanced themes. Thereamong, the issue of simulacrum is raised together with a meditation on the bane of the human condition—that is: entropy and mortality. Even though the latter in particular is not central, the story of Rick Deckard taking prime focus, it is precisely that which has fascinated me about the novel and thence it is this element which I will discuss in the article following.