Paul Ricoeur was one of the most important philosophers of the twentieth century. In this short and accessible book, he turns to a topic at the heart of much of his work: What is translation and why is it so important?

Reminding us that The Bible, the Koran, the Torah and the works of the great philosophers are often only ever read in translation, Ricoeur reminds us that translation not only spreads knowledge but can change its very meaning. In spite of these risk, he argues that in a climate of ethnic and religious conflict, the art and ethics of translation are invaluable.

Drawing on interesting examples such as the translation of early Greek philosophy during the Renaissance, the poetry of Paul Celan and the work of Hannah Arendt, he reflects not only on the challenges of translating one language into another but how one community speaks to another. Throughout, Ricoeur shows how to move through life is to navigate a world that requires translation itself.

Paul Ricoeur died in 2005. He was one of the great contemporary French philosophers and a leading figure in hermeneutics, psychoanalytic thought, literary theory and religion. His many books include Freud and Philosophy and Time and Narrative.

About the Author
St Patrick's College, Dublin City University, Ireland

Reviews

'One of the most distinguished and prolific philosophers of his generation' - The Daily Telegraph

'Accessible and peppered with beautiful phrases, Ricoeur's is the kind of philosophical writing that provides an encounter with a feeling of transcendence and the sublime sometimes at odds with the philosophy it advocates' - M/C Reviews

'As should be evident from the foregoing, this slim volume packs an enormous quantity of important reflection on the process of translation and its two fundamnetal approaches: the translation of words and phrases or the interpretation of meaningful wholes' - Corrado Federici, Figures of Translation

'One of the most distinguished and prolific philosophers of his generation.' - The Daily Telegraph

Book Information
ISBN 9780415357784
Author Paul Ricoeur
Format Paperback
Page Count 72
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 200g