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Latin to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Religion | | Latin term or phrase: actio sequitur esse | From E. Boyd Barrett's 'Strength of Will' - "He relies on the principle of St. Thomas, actio sequitur esse."
I have seen translations that say "action follows essence" but others that say "action follows being" (which to me could be quite separate?). I haven't found the exact quote or attribution to St. Thomas. |
| magicalpathNot a translatorKudoZ activityQuestions: 4 (none open) Answers: 0
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| | action follows being | Explanation:
esse = to be
In the translation "action follows essence" they mean "essence" as in the "essence of being", so . This saying has not been translated exactly for this reason: it either doesn't sound philosophical enough, either not exact enough.
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Note added at 26 mins (2009-03-18 08:21:22 GMT)
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traduttore tradittore (the translator is a betrayor, because he modifies the said words) |
| Selected response from:
Alexandra Krah
Germany
Local time: 07:32
| Grading comment Thanks for the translation.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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25 mins confidence:   action follows being
Explanation:
esse = to be
In the translation "action follows essence" they mean "essence" as in the "essence of being", so . This saying has not been translated exactly for this reason: it either doesn't sound philosophical enough, either not exact enough.
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Note added at 26 mins (2009-03-18 08:21:22 GMT)
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traduttore tradittore (the translator is a betrayor, because he modifies the said words)
| | | Grading comment | Thanks for the translation. |
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33 mins confidence:
1 hr confidence: action follows being
Explanation:
I haven't found any attribution to St. Thomas, all references say it is an old adage, not necessarily from Aquinas. See, for example:
JCEAO-SBC - Renewing Minds, Hearts, and SoulsAgere sequitur esse (action follows being), Greek philosophy teaches. Spirituality on the other hand is also a way of seeing and being in the world. ...
Or:
A Guided Conversation on Global Ethics. (01-APR-01) Global Virtue ...Actio sequitur esse - action follows being, so said the Romans in their time... This is an important distinction, for the discussion of these statements ...
www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27311560_ITM - 28k - Cached - Similar pages
Nevertheless, it seems more common the form "operari sequitur esse":
Nonetheless, according to the ancient adage “operari sequitur esse” (action follows being): in the sphere of human acts is revealed a most profound image, the image of the acting subject precisely in what properly constitutes his being.
www.christendom-awake.org/pages/may/anthrop-visionjpII.htm
Esse is better translated as "being", and "essentia", as "essence"
| | | Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for the links. I will check this out, and make a note that St. Thomas is not necessarily the originator of this quote.
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The translation workplace 
