Los temas más sutiles de Filosofía de la Historia y del Derecho, de Metafísica y de otras ciencias especulativas (pues aún no estaban de moda los estudios experimentales, ni el transformismo, ni Darwin, ni Haeckel eran para ellos, lo que para otros el trompo o la cometa.
3
The more subtle topics of Philosophy of History and Law, of Metaphysics and other speculative sciences (since experimental studies, transformism, Darwin, and Haeckel were not yet in vogue, they were for them what the spinning top or the kite were for others).
Translated by markvanroode 6748 1 month, 2 weeks ago
2
The more subtle topics of Philosophy of History and Law, Metaphysics and other speculative sciences (experimental studies, transformism, Darwin, and Haeckel were not yet in vogue), were for them what the spinning top or the kite were for others.
Translated by markvanroode 6748 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Discussion

'them' is superfluous, but “since” can be included or omitted, as you wish.

by soybeba 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Perhaps, leaving out the words 'since' and 'them' and place ) after vogue? The more subtle topics of Philosophy of History and Law, of Metaphysics and other speculative sciences (experimental studies, transformism, Darwin, and Haeckel were not yet in vogue), were for them what the spinning top or the kite were for others.

by markvanroode 1 month, 2 weeks ago

<<I don't see anything wrong with Mark's text!>> If you read it carefully, you will see that when you place the ) at the end, the wording with which the text of the unit begins is left without a verb or reason. Placing it after the examples cited clarifies everything. The right wording wrill be---> The more subtle topics of Philosophy of History and Law, of Metaphysics and other speculative sciences (.... ) were for them what the spinning top or the kite were for others.

by soybeba 1 month, 2 weeks ago

I don't see anything wrong with Mark's text!

by Boot2 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Thanks, Beba.

by markvanroode 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Hello Mark. You are right, a ) was missing. But I think the ) should be placed after ... Haeckel, and then what is said would make sense, and there would be no need to add the 'not' that I proposed earlier. I didn't realise that parenthesis was missing, and that changes the meaning. It would be the same as saying:
Los temas más sutiles de Filosofía de la Historia y del Derecho, de Metafísica y de otras ciencias especulativas (....) eran para ellos, lo que para otros el trompo o la cometa. --> The more subtle topics of Philosophy of History and Law, of Metaphysics and other speculative sciences (since experimental studies, transformism, Darwin, and Haeckel) were not yet in vogue, they were for them what the spinning top or the kite were for othersX.
In other words: for them, the speculative sciences were the same as playing with spinning top or the kite.

by soybeba 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Beba, I think the translation is correct. I added ) at the end, even though it was omitted in the text. Spinning top and kite are typical toys for kids. For 'de moda', Instead of in vogue, you can use 'the rage' or 'latest trend'.

by markvanroode 1 month, 2 weeks ago

... vogue, they were not for them what ... ??

by soybeba 1 month, 2 weeks ago