GR translation: Not senility, no, ...

[Paul Mackin]

On 6/8/2011 7:01 AM, Mike Jing wrote:
> P49.1-4  "Not senility, no, I mean the position he's working from.  
> Pointsman?  You don't have the priorities he does quite yet, do you?  
> You can't take the chances he can.  You've treated them that age, 
> surely you know that strange...smugness...."
>
> Just want to make sure that my understanding is correct.  I'm pretty 
> sure the published translation is again wrong, but sometimes it does 
> make me just a little bit uncertain.
>
> It is my understanding that "the position he's working from" does not 
> mean his military rank or social status, but rather his mindset, is 
> that correct?
>
> Which definition is the correct meaning of "priorities" here?  (#1 
> does not have a plural form and is omitted.)
>
>    2. the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege 
> <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/privilege>, etc.; precedence.
>    3.the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, 
> services, facilities, etc., especially during a shortage.
> EXPAND
>    4.something given special attention.
>
> In "You've treated them that age", "treated" means treated as a 
> patient, is that right?
>
> Many thanks in advance.

Sounds like "position" means the system of values Pudding adheres to.

The correct "priorities" definition would be 2.   In this case, Pudding 
in comparison with Pointsman would give "means"  a relatively higher 
priority than "ends," and the questionably ethical means being being 
employed by Pointsman should be reason enough to stop the experiments.

"Age" probably refers less to Puddings chronological age than the era in 
which Pudding's values were formed, that is, pre-World War I.

That's the way I might read it.

P


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