Paraphrase is not fraud

Most ancient cards here are paraphrases or translations. Marcus and Epictetus did not write modern English. A card that names the work and marks the English as a paraphrase is doing the honest thing. Calling that card fake would be a second error. 'This translation is faithful' is not yet a plain fact: faithful to which sentence, judged by whom? A word-for-word crib is also not automatically the meaning. Keep three outcomes available. The person wrote this thought. The English is someone's rendering. The sentence was never theirs.

“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”

Seneca · Stoicism

knowledgeselfchange

Paraphrase or translation

Meaning & application

Mini check

"This translation is faithful." Why is this not yet a plain fact?

Faithful still needs a standard: faithful in which respect?Translations are treated as things nobody can compare.The wording is taken to say that no fact of any kind exists.Facts are treated as if they had to be claims about numbers.

"Translate the motto literally and you will know exactly what the philosopher meant." What is assumed?

A word-for-word crib is taken to carry the meaning across.Mottoes are taken to be jokes rather than serious claims.Philosophers are taken never to revise a view once stated.Literal translations are taken not to exist in the first place.

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Find one translated line and name the work before you decide whether the English is the problem.

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