English translation: life

14:56 Nov 19, 2007
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / Keiji Nishitani
Japanese term or phrase:
I'm looking for the standard translation of 生 in the following sentence.

原自然的生は自我という形をとり、自我の活動に変化せしめられるとき、「我意」へと変化する。

If anybody would like to have a shot at the rest of it as well, that would be very helpful!

Thanks again.
CalumR
Japan
Local time: 21:21
English translation:life
Explanation:
The rest of the sentence would go something like this (complete guess):

An original natural life takes a form of self, and when transformed by the activities of self, it changes to ‘own will/selfishness.’

Some people would use 'ego' instead of 'self'....any other ideas??
Selected response from:

Maki Ahn (X)
Grading comment
And thanks again!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +1life
Maki Ahn (X)


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
life


Explanation:
The rest of the sentence would go something like this (complete guess):

An original natural life takes a form of self, and when transformed by the activities of self, it changes to ‘own will/selfishness.’

Some people would use 'ego' instead of 'self'....any other ideas??

Maki Ahn (X)
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
And thanks again!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  emish (X): I agree the translation of "life" and sample translation of the sentence. "self" may include "ego" but not always equal, I think.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, emish..yea, i agree with you on 'self' and 'ego'...this is so confusing, no??
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