【英语】 particular一词的翻译？“特殊的”还是“具体的”、“特定的”？

[mikael]

下面是选自贝克莱《人类知识原理》序言
8.……So likewise the mind, by leaving out of the particular colours perceived by sense that which distinguishes them one from another, and retaining that only which is common to all, makes an idea of colour in abstract; which is neither red, nor blue, nor white, nor any other determinate colour. And, in like manner, by considering motion abstractedly, not only from the body moved, but likewise from the figure it describes, and all particular directions and velocities, the abstract idea of motion is framed; which equally corresponds to all particular motions whatsoever that may be perceived by sense.
9.……Moreover, there being a great variety of other creatures that partake in some parts, but not all, of the complex idea of man, the mind, leaving out those parts which are peculiar to men, and retaining those only which are common to all the living creatures, frames the idea of animal; which abstracts not only from all particular men, but also all birds, beasts, fishes, and insects.……
一般都把particular译为“特殊的”，“特殊的”在中文的意思是：不同于同类的事物或平常的情况；根据上下文我们可知，作者要表达的是“不抽象的、不笼统的、不同于其它的”意思，译为“具体的”、或“特定的”是否更恰当点呢？

 

[笑坐雕鞍歌落梅]

回复: particular一词的翻译？“特殊的”还是“具体的”、“特定的”？

Berkeley的principle是关文运1936年译出的，他用‘特殊’来译particular一词。但考虑到关本人翻译但并不研究哲学，再加上当时的汉语和我们当今的用法多有出入，和现在汉语哲学中术语的使用也多有相悖。读他的译文往往有很‘别致’的感觉。

从此处上下文来看，particular的确应该酌情译为‘具体的’或者‘特定的’或者‘个别的’，以与general（普遍的、概括的）相对称。

记得通行的马哲教材里所提到的一般与个别、普遍与特殊的关系，如果译作英语的话，应该也是general/universal vs particular.但明显地，这种汉语表述也是早期白话文翻译的遗绪，不足为训。

另外，一个貌似的对应是用‘一般’来译general，用‘普遍’来译universal，但考虑到‘一般’在汉语里有average的意思，少用为佳；而英语中general/universal 的交替使用只是修辞的考虑，因而可以不加区分地将它们译作’普遍的’。

这样一多关系的哲学问题在汉语中就有一个比较不容易引发歧解的表达：普遍和个别（具体）。