BCDU (2014) – ratio reddenda

(BCDU  )

Heidegger emphasizes that ratio is ratio reddenda, reason is a rendering. After proposing as German translations for reddere the words zurückgeben, “to render, give back,” and herbeibringen, “to bring,” he adds zu-stellen, with the hyphen of the philosophical re-mark. The postal analogy is explicit: “Wir sprechen von der Zustellung der Post. Die ratio ist ratio reddenda” ( We are speaking of delivering the mail. Reason is ratio reddenda ) ( Der Satz vom Grund (GA10  ), 47 ).