Thematic articles

Transparency, trans-appearance...

TRANSPARENCY, TRANS-APPEARANCE....

Transparency, trans-appearance... beyond appearance. But what could be beyond what appears? But beyond appearance(s)? First of all, we note the semantic difference between the neutral expression, that which appears, and the words appearance(s), apparently, used with a special, sometimes negative connotation. We say, for example, when referring to an object, an animal or a person: 'the train appears', 'the cat has appeared', 'Ion must appear'. However, when we use the words 'appearance(s)' 'apparently', we become more circumspect and cautious. We say: 'it's just an appearance', 'appearances can be deceiving', 'apparently is better', etc. However, these semantic nuances color the rich palette of phenomena, relationships and processes in nature and society. The term "transparency", in turn, literally refers to a certain quality of certain objects, that of being transparent, and figuratively, with reference to certain persons, texts, actions, the quality of being intelligible, clear, obvious.

Read the full text in issue 4 / 2011 of Arhitectura.

Transparence, trans-appearance... beyond appearance. But what could be beyond that which appears? But beyond appearance(s)? Let us note, first, the semantic difference between the neutral expression that which appears and the words appearance(s), apparently, used with a special, at times negative, connotation. For instance, when we refer to some object, an animal or a person, we say: "the train appears", "the cat has appeared", "Ion must appear". However, when we use words such as "appearance" "apparently", we become more cautious. We say: "it is just an appearance", "appearances are deceitful", "apparently it's better" etc. At any rate, these semantic shades color the rich gamut of phenomena, relations and processes occuring in nature and society. The term "transparence", in its turn, literally denotes the capacity of certain objects of being transparent, and figuratively, with respect to some persons, texts and actions, their capacity of being intelligible, clear, and obvious.

Read the full text in the print magazine.

Anton Carpinschi is Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at the "Al.I. Cuza" University of Iași. Visiting Professor at the University of Social Sciences in Toulouse, Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Universities of Liège, Konstanz, Rovaniemi, Lille, Chișinău, București, Cluj. President of the Political Science, Journalism and Communication Sciences Commission of the CNEAA (1993-2006). In January 1990, he participated in the foundation of the Faculty of Philosophy at the "Al.I. Cuza" University of Iași. He initiated the Departments of Sociology-Politology (1990) and Political Science (1997).