Oct 4, 2013 19:04
10 yrs ago
German term
Konstruktionsverfahren
German to English
Social Sciences
Philosophy
From a scholarly essay on the theory of Helmuth Plessner.
Ohne es explizit zu benennen, spezifiziert Plessner das Prinzip der geschlossenen Frage im Sinne der mechanistischen Kausalität, denn nur im Rahmen eines kontrollierten theoretischen und technisch-praktischen *Konstruktionsverfahrens* kann mit Sicherheit angegeben werden, wie einzelne Elemente im Sinne einer mechanistischen Kausalität zusammenwirken und dabei einen Gesamtzusammenhang von unten her bilden. Eindeutige und auf messbare Beziehungen gegründete mechanistische Kausalerklärungen sind an die anerkannte Gültigkeit eines theoretischen und praktischen *Konstruktionsverfahrens* gebunden.
These are the only two uses of the term in the essay and it seems to me that it must have something to do with the setup of an experiment: The point here is the way questions about an unknown object can be asked so that they can be answered in a scientific way. I have not been able to find any concrete evidence to back up my hunch that this term refers to scientific experiments, however, and am at a loss as how to translate it. I'm tempted to use "method" or "procedure", but that may be missing something important. Thanks in advance!
Ohne es explizit zu benennen, spezifiziert Plessner das Prinzip der geschlossenen Frage im Sinne der mechanistischen Kausalität, denn nur im Rahmen eines kontrollierten theoretischen und technisch-praktischen *Konstruktionsverfahrens* kann mit Sicherheit angegeben werden, wie einzelne Elemente im Sinne einer mechanistischen Kausalität zusammenwirken und dabei einen Gesamtzusammenhang von unten her bilden. Eindeutige und auf messbare Beziehungen gegründete mechanistische Kausalerklärungen sind an die anerkannte Gültigkeit eines theoretischen und praktischen *Konstruktionsverfahrens* gebunden.
These are the only two uses of the term in the essay and it seems to me that it must have something to do with the setup of an experiment: The point here is the way questions about an unknown object can be asked so that they can be answered in a scientific way. I have not been able to find any concrete evidence to back up my hunch that this term refers to scientific experiments, however, and am at a loss as how to translate it. I'm tempted to use "method" or "procedure", but that may be missing something important. Thanks in advance!
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| offene Fragen, a priori etc. |
Johanna Timm, PhD
|
Proposed translations
-1
3 hrs
Todd Mikkelsen
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
design process
In my opinion, he is simply saying that is does not make sense to explain what a machine does in terms of how it works unless how it is put together is taken as understood. For example, it would be silly for a person to say that an engine wont turn over because the carborater cannot intake enough fuel unless that persons assumes the person he is speaking to also believes that carboraters are supposed to intake fuel. The "design process" here would be using a carborater to get fuel out of the fuel line and into the cylinder with air in it.
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Note added at 1 day20 mins (2013-10-05 19:25:04 GMT)
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I am sorry to have to say it, because I think it makes a difference, but it should be "it IS silly".
In reaction to the comments below, which I appreciate and agree with, I would say that I still think my example elucidates the concept "Konstruktionsverfahren" as Plessner conceives it quite well. It is a posit he posits: one which has a conceptual form like that of a chain, as does a "process', but which, as a pure posit, is undefined, unlike a "procedure' or a "method". I also find it highly likely that "design" will also yield a very consistent equivalence, as "intelligent design" is a very common buzzword in discussing the issues which Plessener does indeed very clearly treat. Also I think the approach I have taken of conceiving of the terms in this text in terms of speech acts is one which is likely to be very helpful in understanding it in other terms, and therefore also in translating it, for the very reason that it is one which he conspicuously avoids.
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Note added at 1 day23 mins (2013-10-05 19:28:17 GMT)
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Maybe "method".
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Note added at 1 day20 mins (2013-10-05 19:25:04 GMT)
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I am sorry to have to say it, because I think it makes a difference, but it should be "it IS silly".
In reaction to the comments below, which I appreciate and agree with, I would say that I still think my example elucidates the concept "Konstruktionsverfahren" as Plessner conceives it quite well. It is a posit he posits: one which has a conceptual form like that of a chain, as does a "process', but which, as a pure posit, is undefined, unlike a "procedure' or a "method". I also find it highly likely that "design" will also yield a very consistent equivalence, as "intelligent design" is a very common buzzword in discussing the issues which Plessener does indeed very clearly treat. Also I think the approach I have taken of conceiving of the terms in this text in terms of speech acts is one which is likely to be very helpful in understanding it in other terms, and therefore also in translating it, for the very reason that it is one which he conspicuously avoids.
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Note added at 1 day23 mins (2013-10-05 19:28:17 GMT)
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Maybe "method".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Horst Huber (X)
: In Anführungszeichen, wie bei Plessner.
4 hrs
|
| disagree |
Helen Shiner
: It is not about machines. This is sociology.
11 hrs
|
| disagree |
Ramey Rieger (X)
: and philosophy
12 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I am not using the term you suggested but your explanation made the penny drop for me. The point here is indeed about the mechanical setup of something whose parts can only be understood if the construction method is clear. That is the term I ended up using and my client is happy with it. Thanks to all who participated!"
47 mins
Michael Martin, MA
United States
United States
Native in German
&
English
Works in field
United States
Creativity wins in the long run
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
processes of reality construction
Although the quote below deals with Berger and Luckmann, I could imagine it being applied to Plessner as well..
"By investigating the processes of reality construction locally and in situ, they complement the general level of analysis in social Construction and materialize what had been Berger and Luckmann's goal from the outset: to found an empirical sociology of knowledge.
"By investigating the processes of reality construction locally and in situ, they complement the general level of analysis in social Construction and materialize what had been Berger and Luckmann's goal from the outset: to found an empirical sociology of knowledge.
2 hrs
self-positioning
this slightly more than a guess after reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Plessner,
perhaps it can lead you to the proper answer (or it is the proper answer)
perhaps it can lead you to the proper answer (or it is the proper answer)
3 hrs
construction principle
"Plessner, therefore, sought a construction principle which gave fundamental unity to heteronomous, subject-independent content..."
Quote from Rafal Michalski
Source: Transcendental Elements in the Philosophy of Helmuth Plessner - Philosophy and Documentation Center
Dialog and Universalism
Volume 23, Issue 2, 2013
Transcendental Philosophy in the 21st Century
Quote from Rafal Michalski
Source: Transcendental Elements in the Philosophy of Helmuth Plessner - Philosophy and Documentation Center
Dialog and Universalism
Volume 23, Issue 2, 2013
Transcendental Philosophy in the 21st Century
+2
3 hrs
Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Arts/Academic translator - Art historian
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
43
constructive / structuring process
As far as I understand Plessner, from memory, he writes about individuals and objects forming a sense of self and the boundaries of self or individuality in reference to the other or an other object or individual. I don't think this is about theoretical experiments, as you suggest. It has more to do with the construction of a sense of self and interaction with others and beyond that the mechanistics of interplay by means of "cognitive processes and psychic structures". These would then be the "constructive processes" or "structuring processes"
This might help: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HS3Qo63wjGEC&pg=PA187&lpg...
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-04 22:21:48 GMT)
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another not "an other"
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Note added at 16 hrs (2013-10-05 11:36:20 GMT)
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Hi, mill2, yes, I tried to find a relevant passage in EN about closed questions for you. I'm not sure it matters that this specifically is about an experiment set up by him. I think the essential idea is the same. I don't know how he organised his experiments (I did know, shame!) But he was presumably trying to demonstrate or investigate the issue of how the structuring of the self is dependent on boundaries and our interaction with them. It is a gradual, socialising process so I would go with 'structuring process' myself, I think. I hope this helps. I'm on my phone at the moment so research is rather unwieldy but if you perhaps look up Plessner and boundaries you might find confirmation of the appropriate terminology.
This might help: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HS3Qo63wjGEC&pg=PA187&lpg...
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-10-04 22:21:48 GMT)
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another not "an other"
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Note added at 16 hrs (2013-10-05 11:36:20 GMT)
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Hi, mill2, yes, I tried to find a relevant passage in EN about closed questions for you. I'm not sure it matters that this specifically is about an experiment set up by him. I think the essential idea is the same. I don't know how he organised his experiments (I did know, shame!) But he was presumably trying to demonstrate or investigate the issue of how the structuring of the self is dependent on boundaries and our interaction with them. It is a gradual, socialising process so I would go with 'structuring process' myself, I think. I hope this helps. I'm on my phone at the moment so research is rather unwieldy but if you perhaps look up Plessner and boundaries you might find confirmation of the appropriate terminology.
Note from asker:
| I was hoping you'd chime in, Helen! I like the sound of this, but I'm still not sure. The context really is about the "closed questions" of controlled experiments, here's the paragraph prior to the one I quoted above: "Eine Forschung gemäß dem Prinzip der geschlossenen Frage erfordert eine maximale Kontrolle des Erkenntnissubjekts über das Erkenntnisobjekt. Die praktisch wirksame Entfaltung einer solchen Kontrolle vollzieht sich Plessner zufolge auf zwei Ebenen. Zum einen durch die praktische Eingliederung des Erkenntnisgegenstandes in eine Experimentalanordnung und zum anderen durch die Reduktion von möglichen Daten auf solche, die mathematisierbar sind." |
| Thanks very much, Helen, although in this context it is not about the structuring of the self or boundaries (I am of course very aware that this is at the heart of Plessner's theory) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lancashireman
: It’s ages since I read Plessner too, but this comes closest: Designprozesse, Gestaltungsabläufe und Konstruktionsverfahren.
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Andrew - I've translated so many papers on Plessner; just hope I retained something of it!
|
|
| agree |
Ramey Rieger (X)
: Yes, structuring process. The world begins directly beyond my skin.
12 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Ramey
|
Reference comments
1 day 4 hrs
Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Canada
Native in German
Specializes in field
Canada
Friendly, fast & certified!
Native in: German (Variants: Swiss, Platt / Nieder (Low German), Austrian, Germany) 
Works in: English to German, German to English, German
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Reference:
offene Fragen, a priori etc.
page 5 ff .
http://www.ts.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/fg226/TUTS/TUTS_WP_4_20...
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2013-10-05 23:48:27 GMT)
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The link does not seem to work, sorry. .. google
Gesa Lindemann: Verstehen und Erklären bei Helmuth Plessner (Dissertation TU Berlin)
http://www.ts.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/fg226/TUTS/TUTS_WP_4_20...
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2013-10-05 23:48:27 GMT)
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The link does not seem to work, sorry. .. google
Gesa Lindemann: Verstehen und Erklären bei Helmuth Plessner (Dissertation TU Berlin)
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