Which of these two translations of Nietzsche's "Umwertung aller Werte" would be better to use: "Transvaluation of all values" or "Revaluation of all values"? In H.L.Mencken's translation, there's "transvaluation", but google shows more results for "revaluation".
Since Kaufmann, the preference has been "revaluation" among Nietzsche scholars. I cannot find Kaufmann's argument for his choice about the translation at the moment, but it seems to better fit N's concern to work through a new theory of value and to critically re-assess existing moral and evaluative theories (see Ecce Homo, "Destiny," 1 ). Revaluation certainly seems more to N's point in The Antichrist, which is a sustained attack, inter alia, upon Christian morality.
Cheers,
John
Last edited by jgweed; 08-24-2008 at 12:37 PM.
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
Thank you for your answer, you helped me a lot.
As I understood from your post, "revaluation" is probably more commonly used and better known (at least among scholars). But I cannot help myself, I still like the word "transvaluation" better. Do you think I can use it without fearing that someone won't understand it properly?
And anyway, for example Merriam-Webster Online definitions seem to be more in favour of "transvaluation"
revalue: 1 : to value (as currency) anew
2 : to make a new valuation of : reappraise
transvalue: to reevaluate especially on a basis that repudiates accepted standards
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