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Sextus

#256641 Thu, 17 Aug 06 12:22 AM

Is this sentence correct:

"B's book is a valuable contribution to the study of ancient skepticism, and of its Academic variety in particular. It is an excellent work with which to embark upon such study, and will no doubt become ... ". ?

Thanks.

Sextus

Joined on Sat, Nov 6 2004

Buenos Aires

Regular Member (731)

MrPedantic

#256649 Thu, 17 Aug 06 01:16 AM

Hello Sextus, I haven't seen you for a while.

"To embark upon such study" doesn't seem quite idiomatic here. "Such studies" would be more usual; but then it seems to suggest "the study of ancient skepticism, among other things".

What about "It is an excellent introduction to the field, and will..."?

Have a good Thursday,

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,053)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...

Clive

#256657 Thu, 17 Aug 06 01:58 AM

Hi Sextus,

Do you need the capital 'A'?

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,191)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Sextus

#256664 Thu, 17 Aug 06 02:34 AM

Hi MrP, it's been a while indeed. I've posted a couple of things recently, but haven't seen you. Hope your things are ok.

Thanks for the answer. Yeah, that could work. The point is that the book is a translation of an ancient book on the matter (Academic skepticism), and the translator also offers a fine, clear introduction and very good notes. So, what I wanted to say is that reading it is a good way to start studying that philosophical stance. Do you think that "introduction to the field" works in this case?

Clive, thanks for your post, too. The capital is needed because "Academic" refers to a member of the Academy founded by Plato. So, it's the same as with "Stoic", "Epicurean", and "Pyrrhonist".

Cheers

Sextus

Translation

MrPedantic

#256943 Thu, 17 Aug 06 10:29 PM

Yes, I've been connectively challenged of late, so haven't been able to spend much time online. (I may well disappear mid-post.)

I don't think my suggestion works, in view of what you say. Perhaps:

"B's book is a valuable contribution to the study of ancient skepticism, and of its Academic variety in particular. It is also an excellent work/resource/starting point for newcomers to the field, and will no doubt become ..."

(Though much depends on what follows "become"!)

See you later,

MrP

MrPedantic

Sextus

#256949 Thu, 17 Aug 06 11:18 PM

Well, I find the suggestion excellent. Thanks MrP.

See you,

Sextus