target costing vs traditional costing

Traditional costing is simply based on charging a price that is higher than cost (so as to make a profit). It does not ignore the effect of the selling price – they may then (for example) have to reduce the selling price because of competition.
However, the ‘starting’ point is the cost, whereas with target costing the starting point is the selling price and then trying to get the cost down to the target.

It depends on how you define traditional costing! (Where did you get that expression from – it is not a standard expression at all. There is not really such a thing as traditional costing!!! Unless you are thinking of traditional absorption costing as opposed to activity based costing)