Bui Van Nam Son, the first translator to introduce Vietnam to the philosophies of Hegel and Kant, says that although Vietnam used to be a leader in philosophical study, the country now lags behind.
For years, Son has been translating and annotating the canonical texts of Western philosophy into Vietnamese.
His readers say his work combines a masterful knowledge of philosophy, an in-depth grasp of language, a great love for the subject and meticulous research.
But the 61-year-old researcher, who has also translated Heidegger and de Tocqueville, is concerned that the social sciences in Vietnam have fallen far behind other countries.
“We tend to undervalue social sciences, thinking that they don’t create wealth.”
But the social sciences are the foundation on which other sciences thrive and a sustainable, prospering economy is built, he says.
The proper development of social sciences is the best way to develop the country, he says, as philosophy helps us attain freedom by making alien things familiar and helping us to renew ourselves.
According to Son, Vietnam’s inadequate library system is an example of how the country is lagging behind.
“Our national libraries even have less books than other countries’ university libraries,” he says sadly.
“Take the Republic of Korea for instance. We outdid them in philosophy in the 1970s, but almost 40 years later, we are dropping behind.”
Korean libraries are now stacked without standing translations of philosophy masterpieces, he says.
“It is urgent that Vietnam narrow the gap with other countries regarding social sciences and philosophy in particular. We must do it now before it’s too late,” he says, adding that intellectuals must always take the lead.
But the translator also says that Vietnamese should not be under the impression that they do not have philological traditions.
Though they might not have always been applied properly, Son says, Vietnamese have absorbed ancient Chinese ethical and philosophical systems such as Confucianism and Taoism.
Son says he is glad that more local researchers are now keen on developing the country’s philosophy.
He hopes that his work can continue to pave the way.
Translating the greats
Son’s annotated Vietnamese version of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s Phanomenologie des Geistes (Phenomenology of Spirit), was released to high praise in 2006.
Philosophy professor Nguyen Huu Liem called the book a major breakthrough for the study of philosophy in Vietnam.
Son’s translation of Hegel’s Wissenschaft der Logik (Science of Logic) is now being printed.
He has also translated three of German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s major works: Kritik der reinen vernunft (Critique of Pure Reason) and Kritik der praktischen Vernunft (Critique of Practical Reason), Kritik der Urteilskraft (Critique of Judgment).
Son’s translation of Critique of Pure Reason won the Tinh hoa giao duc quoc te (International Educational Quintessence) prize given by Phan Chu Trinh Translation Association in coordination with Hanoi National University in 2006.
Son graduated from the Philosophy Department of Saigon Literature University (Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities now) in 1968 before going to study in Germany where he later became a philosophy lecturer.
Reported by Hai Mien |
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