Source: Social Science Office
Written by: Social Science Office
Translated by: Yu Tao

On January 25, 2013, the opening report meeting on the major project “Translation of Collected Works of Husserl” (Project Approval No. 12&ZD124) of the 2012 National Social Science Fund hosted by Professor Ni Liangkang from the Department of Philosophy of Sun Yat-sen University was convened in Xijiang Research Institute of History and Culture of Zhaoqing University. The members of the research group from universities in Mainland China and Taiwan attended the meeting. Professor Zhao Dunhua from the Department of Philosophy of Peking University, Professor Deng Xiaomang from the Department of Philosophy of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Qingjie from the Department of Philosophy of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Sun Zhouxing from the College of Humanities of Tongji University and Professor Wang Heng from the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University were invited as appraisal experts by the research group.

The opening report, made by the chief expert of the research group Professor Ni Liangkang, covers the background, the basic situation, the general framework and the objective of the project. And the report is fully approved by the appraisal experts who agree that in light of the solid foundation, full preparation and strict planning of the research group led by Professor Ni Liangkang, the conditions for a reliable Chinese translation of Collected Works of Husserl are ripe, and that not only promoting the development and construction of the discipline of foreign philosophy in Sun Yat-Sen University but also in general promoting the study of Phenomenology in Chinese-speaking world, the project is of high academic value and significance.

Suggestions are offered by the appraisal group for the research group: 1. remaining the consistency of the terms translated in the whole collected works as much as possible; 2. strengthening contact and discussion among members of the research group within the range of the sub-project in order to better understand the original works; 3. perfecting the procedures of translation, reading, proofreading and checking in order to assure the quality of the translation, etc.

Professor Wang Heng, an expert of the appraisal group, pointed out that in the process of the project, the members of the research group should visit the Husserl archives and comprehend the latest information on the international study of Husserl if possible; furthermore, try to promote translation by study and stimulate study by translation, at the same time of providing a high-quality Chinese translation of Collected Works of Husserl, improve the study of Phenomenology in Chinese-speaking world.

The research group members also discussed on the translation of Husserl’s works and the study of the thoughts of Husserl and other related issues. The academic and executive secretary of the research group Dr. Zhang Wei made a summary on behalf of the research group and discussed with other members on the schedule of translation, the important terms translated and the procedures of translation, reading, proofreading and checking, etc. The research group planed to publish 2 or 3 volumes of the translated works per year in the next five years and made an effort to finish the translation and the publishing of all the works that Husserl had published before his death by 2017. Through this meeting, the research group members were more clear about the general plan and the specific schedule of further work.