ad rationis motum sensu estimationis habilitentur extrinsecus

15:15 Oct 9, 2019
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

Latin to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Other / academic paper
Latin term or phrase: ad rationis motum sensu estimationis habilitentur extrinsecus
I'm language-editing a very academic book written in English (about what defines "human"), which contains some quotations from works written in Latin. The author has translated these herself. Here, however, it makes no sense to me, so I'd welcome some ideas about what the source text actually says. Google Translate was useless! Here's the whole quote plus the author's translation (hope I've picked out the appropriate Latin phrase!):

Secundum Augustinum utique determinatur animal habere animam, quod est rationale mortale; neque tantum forma, sed actus et habitus hominem manifestant. Animalibus vero monstruosis animam inesse non credimus, et si per aliquos actus **ad rationis motum sensu estimationis habilitentur extrinsecus**, quoniam non habent cursum organisationis in corpore, ut sensu intellectuali rationis schemate perfruantur.

According to Augustine we can determine if an animal has a soul, that is if it is rational and mortal; not the shape, but actions and behaviour show the man. However, we do not believe that there is a soul in monstrous animals, even though by some actions **they seem enabled towards the movement of reason by their estimation**, because they do not have their body organised in such a way that they can fully enjoy the intellectual structure of reason.
MoiraB
France
Local time: 16:51


Summary of answers provided
3see
Gely


  

Answers


1 day 22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
see


Explanation:
In my opinion, the problem here is the translation "by their estimation"

"sensu estimationis" --> it means the "estimative sense"
(http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/estimatv.html), french "estimative"

So: "... by some actions it seems externally (extrinsecus), because of their estimative sense, that they have the movement of reason inside"

Gely
Spain
Local time: 16:51
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for replying but it still doesn't sound understandable, I'm afraid. A colleague was able to ask a friend of hers, who's actually a Latin scholar, and he said: "I'd render estimatio (a fairly rare word) as 'instinct'. In other words, the behaviour of some animals looks (i.e. their 'actus extrinsecus') as if it is motivated by a soul but it's only their instinct operating." The author felt that "instinct" might be misleading and opted for your "estimative sense" instead but kept the rest.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

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.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search