[Revised entry by Chad Hansen, David Wong, and Henry Rosemont Jr. on October 28, 2025.
Changes to: Main text, Bibliography]
A correct translation of a philosophical text should reflect the original’s meaning. Interpretations are theories of meaning, so translation and interpretation intertwine. Philosophy of language, especially philosophical semantics, deals with meaning and methodology of interpretation. ‘Meaning’ is a normative term with different norms of application in diverse contexts. Thus, despite their connection, the criteria for good translation and interpretation can differ in different contexts….