Return to Classical Political Philosophy: The Strauss Correspondence Collective

Author: Strauss et al. [USA]
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Even if classic Western thought has been translated into Chinese, it does not mean that the Chinese academic community has the ability to interpret it. Although the history of translating Western academic works into Chinese has only been a century, the accumulation has already been substantial, yet the academic interpretation still seems to be like eating undercooked rice—even raw rice, unable to digest it. Translating works by Western scholars interpreting classic Western texts, fully utilizing the solid achievements of Western academia in organizing and preserving the past, is of great significance to continuing the unfinished task of understanding Western intellectual traditions since the late Qing Dynasty. The translation community is not unenthusiastic about translating research works by Western scholars, and there are even large-scale translation series. It is evident that the topics of such translations are basically stuck at the level of general histories or biographical evaluations, failing to advance to in-depth close readings with interpretive depth. The design of this series, "Western Tradition: Classics and Interpretations," aims to promote a deeper understanding of the great tradition of Western thought among scholars. The selection of topics not only considers the many urgent research gaps to be filled (including translations of some classic works), but particularly focuses on choosing interpretations of classics by prominent thinkers and dedicated intellectual historians. Even if classic Western thought has been translated into Chinese, it does not mean that the Chinese academic community has the ability to interpret it. The history of translating Western academic works into Chinese has only been a century, yet the accumulation has already been substantial, yet the academic interpretation still seems to be like eating undercooked rice—even raw rice, unable to digest it. Translating works by Western scholars interpreting classic Western texts, fully utilizing the solid achievements of Western academia in organizing and preserving the past, is of great significance to continuing the unfinished task of understanding Western intellectual traditions since the late Qing Dynasty. The translation community is not unenthusiastic about translating research works by Western scholars, and there are even large-scale translation series. It is evident that the topics of such translations are basically stuck at the level of general histories or biographical evaluations, failing to advance to in-depth close readings with interpretive depth. The design of this series, "Western Tradition: Classics and Interpretations," aims to promote a deeper understanding of the great tradition of Western thought among scholars. The selection of topics not only considers the many urgent research gaps to be filled, but particularly focuses on choosing interpretations of classics by prominent thinkers and dedicated intellectual historians.