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in vista di un fine

English translation: nature acts for an end

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11:27 Jan 23, 2012

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / Aristotle

Italian term or phrase: in vista di un fine

La famosa affermazione “noi diciamo che la natura agisce in vista di un fine e questo fine è un
bene” .

De Somn.et Vig. 2, 455b 17, v. anche Met. I, 3, 983 a 24-32, La locomozione degli animali, 2, 704
b, 12-18

This is the text and the reference. However, I cannot find this saying anywhere. Any help is much appreciated!

Simona V
Italy

English translation:nature acts for an end

Explanation:
I believe that this is right, and the references do seem to back it up. I haven't been able to find an exact translation of this specific reference though. HTH!

Selected response from:

Laura Bennett
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:57

Grading comment

Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +3

nature acts for an end

Laura Bennett

for the sake of an end

Michael Brennen

we say (that) nature acts for a (definite) purpose and that purpose is good(ness)

Michael Korovkin

to an ultimate end

Isabelle Johnson

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

nature acts for an end

Explanation:
I believe that this is right, and the references do seem to back it up. I haven't been able to find an exact translation of this specific reference though. HTH!

Laura Bennett
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:57
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks for your help!

14 mins confidence:

to an ultimate end

Explanation:
I haven't found an exact translation for the phrase but I found this a lot too: www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/

Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Local time: 06:57
Native speaker of:

English

18 hrs confidence:

for the sake of an end

Explanation:
For what it's worth, this is the text in the J.I. Beard translation of On Sleep and Sleeplessness (De Somn.et Vig.), from the Great Books series. The full sentence is "...as we assert that Nature operates for the sake of an end, and that this end is a good" ("good" italicized in the original).

Michael Brennen
Local time: 23:57
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

1 day9 hrs confidence:

we say (that) nature acts for a (definite) purpose and that purpose is good(ness)

Explanation:
Baudelaire would definitely disagree.
As for me, I wish I had their certainty! :))))

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day9 hrs (2012-01-24 21:00:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"the end", in the context of nature, sounds kinda ominous... doesn't it?

Michael Korovkin
Local time: 06:57
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in category: 24

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in vista di un fine

English translation: nature acts for an end

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in vista di un fine

English translation: nature acts for an end

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.