Re: Universitatlity

I think you're right that we're arguing the same point from different
ends. I think a big problem is this, though:

"Kozusko, Matthew" wrote:
>But the idea that there are things that apply to everyone, everywhere and across all time, is silly.

"Things" is too open ended. Everyone, everywhere, across all time has
walked upon our planet, breathed this planet's atmosphere (which
admittedly does vary over time and place, but is still largely the same
mix), experiences different kinds of weather (not everyone sees snow,
but everyone has had to experience rain at some point, otherwise their
environment would be uninhabitable), sees the sky, etc. All people
across all times and places have generally ingested food and water
through their mouths rather than any other orifice. Etc. There may be
remote, rare exceptions to all these. The existence of exceptions
doesn't invalidate the rule, though.

We could go beyond this. I think if we were to draw up a list of
emotional experiences, I'd guess that affection, anger, and fear would
be on everyone's list.

Then if we get even more specific, we'd have to admit that French,
English, and Spanish culture is descended from the same Greek/Roman mix
(with other influences) that American culture is. We could argue that
most of the major European languages had a common root.

All this adds up to the idea that we all have a great deal in common and
a great many differences too. If we both agree that ultimately there's
a bit of a gap, the only argument then is, "how much of a gap, and how
important is this gap, and how important is this gap to which
questions?" I think rather than emphasizing the differences or the
commonalities in general, it's probably better to see how they play
themselves out in specific instances of translation.

Jim
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Received on Sun Dec 7 12:11:26 2003