Yeah, "remnant" seems to fit. Or another suitable translation of Siehe Wörterbuch: überbleibsel

What kind of drivel is that, anyway?

Thanks! Of those words I guess relict would be a good option too.

This is ivory tower drivel...
Siehe auch: je inkriminierter Texte

Not forgetting the fact it requires critical reading Siehe auch: kritische Lektüre - read carefully

Its. "relic", not relict", but "remnant" and "residue" work as well.

But the whole sentence is not adequately rendered in the translation. This is your version:

This cannot be considered a remnant of debate with 'backward' cultures if one bears in mind that even in our well-established society, which is governed by a judicial system, an education system and moral discourse, control is still exercised over the literary community.


First, "Auseinandersetzung mit" does not require the participation of the other side. It's the "debate ON" or the "discussion of".

The whole sentence, in German, is marred by missing kommas and/or sloppy style, but the meaning is fairly clear:

You will not mistake this for a remnant of the debate on "retarded" cultures when you remember that in our own culture, with judicial and educational systems as well as a system of ethical discourse firm in place, there are well-established authorities which exert control on the realm of the literary / the realm of literature / the literary world.