(9:25 PM) | Adam Kotsko:

Thursday Translation Attempt: Wednesday Edition

Que veut dire en français donner la mort? Comment se donne-t-on la mort? Comment se la donne-t-on au sens où se donner la mort, c’est mourir en assumant la responsabilité de sa mort, se suicider mais aussi bien se sacrifier pour autrui, mourir pour l’autre, donc peut-être donner sa vie en se donnant la mort, en acceptant la mort donnée, comme ont pu le faire de façon si différente Socrate, le Christ et quelques autres? Et peut-être Patočka à sa manière? Comment se donne-t-on la mort en cet autre sense où se donner la mort, c’est aussi interpréter la mort, s’en donner une représentation, une figure, une signification, une destination? Comment se la donne-t-on au sens où simplement et plus généralement on se rapporte, et selon quel souci, quelle appréhension, à cette possibilité de la mort, fût-ce, selon la formule de Heidegger, comme à la possibilité d’une impossibilité? Quel est la rapport entre le “se donner la mort” et le sacrifice? Entre se donner la mort et mourir pour l’autre? Entre le sacrifice, le suicide et l’économie de ce don?

What does to give death mean in French? How does one give oneself death? How does one give it to oneself in the sense where to give oneself death is to die in assuming the responsibility of one’s death, to commit suicide but also to sacrifice oneself for others, to die for the other, thus maybe to give one’s life in giving oneself death, in accepting the death given—as Socrates, Christ, and so many others were able to do it in such different ways? And maybe Patočka in his way? How to give oneself death in that other sense where to give oneself death is also to interpret death, to give a representation, a signification, a destination of it? How to give oneself death in the sense where simply and more generally one relates oneself, and according to what care, to this possibility of death, were it, according to the formula of Heidegger, as to the possibility of an impossibility? What is the relationship between “giving oneself death” and the sacrifice? Between giving oneself death and dying for the other? Between sacrifice, suicide, and the economy of this gift?

What does donner la mort mean in French? How does one give oneself death [se donner la mort]? How does one give it to oneself in the sense that putting oneslef to death means dying while assuming responsibility for one's own death, committing suicide but also sacrificing oneself for another, dying for the other, thus perhaps giving one's life by giving oneself death, accepting the gift of death, such as Socrates, Christ, and others did in so many different ways. And perhaps Patočka in his own way? How does one give oneself death in that other sense in terms of which se donner la mort is also to interpret death, to give oneself a representation of it, a figure, a signification or destination for it? How does one give it to oneself in the sense of simply, and more generally, relating to the possibility of death (on the basis of what care, concern or apprehension?) even if that means, following Heidegger, relating to the possibility of an impossibility? What is the relation between se donner la mort and sacrifice? Between putting oneself to death and dying for another? What are the relations among sacrifice, suicide, and the economy of the gift?

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