This article begins with a sketch of a revolutionary new “foreignizing” method of translation that Herder and Schleiermacher invented, including some differences between their versions of it. It then argues that the appearance that Herder applies the method to translating literature whereas Schleiermacher applies it to translating philosophy is misleading since Schleiermacher is as much concerned with literature as Herder had been, only adding a concern with philosophy. Moreover, it argues against valorizing the case of translating philosophy more strongly than Schleiermacher does or even quite as strongly as he does. Finally, the article turns to the controversial question how well Schleiermacher’s official methodology and his Plato translations agree. It is argued that when the former is properly understood they agree remarkably well.
Keywords: Schleiermacher, Translation, Literature, Philosophy, Meaning.