Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term
Thorough, sensitive, and idiomatic
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, Spanish to English, English, and 2 more.
начала
Proposed translations
Belarus
Commitment and experience, here and now
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Belarusian to English, Russian to English, and 2 more.
nature
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Note added at 51 мин (2007-03-07 06:32:03 GMT)
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The Da Vinci Person is actually a secret code that represents the integration of each person's feminine with his or her masculine nature.
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Note added at 55 мин (2007-03-07 06:36:12 GMT)
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If a woman wore a necklace of Green Tourmaline for an extended period, her masculine nature would eventually overwhelm her feminine nature
Actually, if you Google "masculine nature" and "feminine nature" you will find zillions of matches ;)
United States
ATA-certified: literary, medical, SEO
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English
см.
Uzbekistan
Serious, Professional, Punctual
Native in: Uzbek , Russian
Works in: English to Uzbek, English to Russian, Uzbek to English, and 3 more.
fundamentals
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Note added at 14 mins (2007-03-07 05:54:52 GMT)
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It is just my own opinion.
United States
PhD with 18 years of translation service
Native in: Ukrainian 
, Russian
Works in: English to Ukrainian, English to Russian, Ukrainian to English, and 1 more.
мужское и женское начала --> masculine and feminine core
principles
Yang is the masculine, active principle; Yin is the passive, feminine principle.
http://jonathanscorner.com/writing/male_female/
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Note added at 44 mins (2007-03-07 06:25:10 GMT)
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Principle (noun) - Beginning; commencement.
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French principe, principle, from Old French, from Latin principium beginning, from princip-, princeps initiator
e.g. a divine principle - GOD
| agree |
Alexander Demyanov
: http://www.silver-branch.org/ssbcreations/ssbmfprinciple.htm...
8 hrs
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Thank you, Alexander!
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Canada
University Degree in Translation
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, English, and 1 more.
essence
Canada
Project manager. Conference interpreter.
Native in: Russian , English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English, and 2 more.
inherent qualities (see suggestion below)
In this case "начала" refers to inherent qualities that govern male and female behavior.
I would suggest something like this: "...in both cases the justification [explanation, rationale] is that men are inherently aggressive (...) and women are inherently passive (...)."
This translation is far from perfect, but I hope you get the idea.
United States
UNSURPASSABLE EXPERIENCE
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English, and 3 more.
answering your question
И в том, и в другом случае в качестве обоснования приводится активное мужское НАЧАЛО (должны знать, потому что им принадлежит инициатива и необходимо поступать правильно) и пассивное женское НАЧАЛО (должны знать, чтобы не поступать неправильно) начала.
or
instead of two НАЧАЛО (sing. and sing.) author put one НАЧАЛА (plural) at he end of the sentence.
И в том, и в другом случае в качестве обоснования приводится активное мужское (должны знать, потому что им принадлежит инициатива и необходимо поступать правильно) и пассивное женское (должны знать, чтобы не поступать неправильно) НАЧАЛА.
Professional Language Services
Native in: Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, French to Russian, and 1 more.
there may not be a direct translation
Мой ответ - это повторение ответа Евгения Терехина, только я бы предложил использовать the male and the female или masculine and feminine
India
No better translation than from a native
Native in: Marathi , Hindi
Works in: English to Marathi, English to Hindi, Russian to English, and 3 more.
Discussion