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| 11300 | Agathon: good |
| Full Idea: Agathon: good, the highest good | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 01) |
| 11301 | Aisthesis: perception, sensation, consciousness |
| Full Idea: Aisthesis: perception, sensation, consciousness | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 02) |
| 11302 | Aitia / aition: cause, explanation |
| Full Idea: Aitia / aition: cause, explanation | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 03) | |||
| A reaction: The consensus is that 'explanation' is the better translation, and hence that the famous Four Causes (in 'Physics') must really be understood as the Four Modes of Explanation. They then make far more sense. |
| 11303 | Akrasia: lack of control, weakness of will |
| Full Idea: Akrasia: lack of control, weakness of will | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 04) | |||
| A reaction: The whole Greek debate (and modern debate, I would say) makes much more sense if we stick to 'lack of control' as the translation, and forget about weakness of will - and certainly give up 'incontinence' as a translation. |
| 11304 | Aletheia: truth |
| Full Idea: Aletheia: truth | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 05) |
| 11305 | Anamnesis: recollection, remembrance |
| Full Idea: Anamnesis: recollection, remembrance | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 06) | |||
| A reaction: This is used for Plato's doctrine that we recollect past lives. |
| 11306 | Ananke: necessity |
| Full Idea: Ananke: necessity | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 07) |
| 11307 | Antikeimenon: object |
| Full Idea: Antikeimenon: object | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 08) |
| 11375 | Apatheia: unemotional |
| Full Idea: Apatheia: lack of involvement, unemotional | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 09) |
| 11308 | Apeiron: the unlimited, indefinite |
| Full Idea: Apeiron: the unlimited, indefinite | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 10) | |||
| A reaction: Key term in the philosophy of Anaximander, the one unknowable underlying element. |
| 11376 | Aphairesis: taking away, abstraction |
| Full Idea: Aphairesis: taking away, abstraction | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 11) |
| 11309 | Apodeixis: demonstration |
| Full Idea: Apodeixis: demonstration, proof | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 12) |
| 11310 | Aporia: puzzle, question, anomaly |
| Full Idea: Aporia: puzzle, question, anomaly | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 13) |
| 11311 | Arche: first principle, the basic |
| Full Idea: Arché: first principle, the basic | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 14) | |||
| A reaction: Interchangeable with 'aitia' by Aristotle. The first principle and the cause are almost identical. |
| 11312 | Arete: virtue, excellence |
| Full Idea: Areté: virtue, excellence | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 15) | |||
| A reaction: The word hovers between moral excellence and being good at what you do. Annas defends the older translation as 'virtue', rather than the modern 'excellence'. |
| 11313 | Chronismos: separation |
| Full Idea: Chronismos: separation | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 16) |
| 11314 | Diairesis: division |
| Full Idea: Diairesis: division, distinction | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 17) |
| 11315 | Dialectic: dialectic, discussion |
| Full Idea: Dialectic: dialectic, discussion | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 18) |
| 11316 | Dianoia: intellection [cf. Noesis] |
| Full Idea: Dianoia: intellection, understanding [cf. Noesis] | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 21) |
| 11317 | Diaphora: difference |
| Full Idea: Diaphora: difference | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 22) |
| 11318 | Dikaiosune: moral goodness, justice |
| Full Idea: Dikaiosune: moral goodness, justice | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 23) | |||
| A reaction: Usually translated as 'justice' in 'Republic', but it is a general term of moral approbation, not like the modern political and legal notion of 'justice'. 'Justice' actually seems to be bad translation. |
| 11319 | Doxa: opinion, belief |
| Full Idea: Doxa: opinion, belief, judgement | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 24) |
| 11320 | Dunamis: faculty, potentiality, capacity |
| Full Idea: Dunamis: faculty, potentiality, capacity | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 25) |
| 11321 | Eidos: form, idea |
| Full Idea: Eidos: form, idea | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 26) | |||
| A reaction: In Plato it is the word best translated as 'Form' (Theory of...); in Aritotle's 'Categories' it designates the species, and in 'Metaphysics' it ends up naming the structural form of the species (and hence the essence) [Wedin p.120] |
| 11322 | Elenchos: elenchus, interrogation |
| Full Idea: Elenchos: elenchus, interrogation | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 27) |
| 11323 | Empeiron: experience |
| Full Idea: Empeiron: experience | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 28) |
| 11324 | Energeia: employment, actuality, power? |
| Full Idea: Energeia: employment, actuality, power? | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 31) |
| 11325 | Enkrateia: control |
| Full Idea: Enkrateia: control | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 32) | |||
| A reaction: See 'akrasia', of which this is the opposite. The enkratic person is controlled. |
| 11326 | Entelecheia: entelechy, having an end |
| Full Idea: Entelecheia: entelechy, having an end | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 33) |
| 11327 | Epagoge: induction, explanation |
| Full Idea: Epagoge: induction, explanation, leading on | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 34) |
| 11328 | Episteme: knowledge, understanding |
| Full Idea: Episteme: knowledge, understanding | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 35) | |||
| A reaction: Note that 'episteme' can form a plural in Greek, but we can't say 'knowledges', so we have to say 'branches of knowledge', or 'sciences'. |
| 11329 | Epithumia: appetite |
| Full Idea: Epithumia: appetite | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 36) |
| 11330 | Ergon: function |
| Full Idea: Ergon: function, work | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 37) |
| 11331 | Eristic: polemic, disputation |
| Full Idea: Eristic: polemic, disputation | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 38) | |||
| A reaction: This is confrontational argument, rather than the subtle co-operative dialogue of dialectic. British law courts and the House of Commons are founded on eristic, rather than on dialectic. Could there be a dialectical elected assembly? |
| 11332 | Eros: love |
| Full Idea: Eros: love, desire | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 41) |
| 11333 | Eudaimonia: flourishing, happiness, fulfilment |
| Full Idea: Eudaimonia: flourishing, happiness, fulfilment | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 42) | |||
| A reaction: Some people defend 'happiness' as the translation, but that seems to me wildly misleading, since eudaimonia is something like life going well, and certainly isn't a psychological state - and definitely not pleasure. |
| 11334 | Genos: type, genus |
| Full Idea: Genos: type, genus, kind | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 43) |
| 11335 | Hexis: state, habit |
| Full Idea: Hexis: state, habit | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 44) |
| 11359 | Prote ousia: primary being |
| Full Idea: Prote ousia: primary being | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 74) | |||
| A reaction: The main topic of investigation in Aristotle's 'Metaphysics'. 'Ousia' is the central problem of the text, NOT the answer to the problem. |
| 11360 | Psuche: mind, soul, life |
| Full Idea: Psuche: mind, soul, life | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 75) | |||
| A reaction: The interesting thing about this is that we have tended to translate it as 'soul', but Aristotle says plants have it, and not merely conscious beings. It is something like the 'form' of a living thing, but then 'form' is a misleading translation too. |
| 11361 | Sophia: wisdom |
| Full Idea: Sophia: wisdom | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 76) |
| 11362 | Sophrosune: moderation, self-control |
| Full Idea: Sophrosune: moderation, self-control | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 77) |
| 11363 | Stoicheia: elements |
| Full Idea: Stoicheia: elements | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 78) |
| 11364 | Sullogismos: deduction, syllogism |
| Full Idea: Sullogismos: deduction, syllogism | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 81) |
| 11365 | Techne: skill, practical knowledge |
| Full Idea: Techne: skill, practical knowledge | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 82) |
| 11366 | Telos: purpose, end |
| Full Idea: Telos: purpose, end | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 83) |
| 11367 | Theoria: contemplation |
| Full Idea: Theoria: contemplation | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 84) |
| 11368 | Theos: god |
| Full Idea: Theos: god | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 85) |
| 11369 | Ti esti: what-something-is, essence |
| Full Idea: Ti esti: the what-something-is, essence, whatness | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 86) |
| 11370 | Timoria: vengeance, punishment |
| Full Idea: Timoria: vengeance, punishment | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 87) |
| 11371 | To ti en einai: essence, what-it-is-to-be |
| Full Idea: To ti en einai: essence, what-it-is-to-be | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 88) | |||
| A reaction: This is Aristotle's main term for what we would now call the 'essence'. It is still not a theory of essence, merely an identification of the target. 'Form' is the nearest we get to his actual theory. |
| 11372 | To ti estin: essence |
| Full Idea: To ti estin: essence | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 91) |
| 11373 | Tode ti: this-such, subject of predication [cf. hupokeimenon] |
| Full Idea: Tode ti: this-something, subject of predication, thisness [cf. hupokeimenon] | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 92) |
| 11336 | Horismos: definition |
| Full Idea: Horismos: definition | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 45) |
| 11337 | Hule: matter |
| Full Idea: Hule: matter | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 46) | |||
| A reaction: The first half of the 'hylomorphism' of Aristotle. See 'morphe'! |
| 11338 | Hupokeimenon: subject, underlying thing [cf. Tode ti] |
| Full Idea: Hupokeimenon: subject, underlying thing, substratum [cf. Tode ti] | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 47) | |||
| A reaction: Literally 'that which lies under'. Latin version is 'substratum'. In Aristotle it is the problem, of explaining what lies under. It is not the theory that there is some entity called a 'substratum'. |
| 11339 | Kalos / kalon: beauty, fineness, nobility |
| Full Idea: Kalos / kalon: beauty, fineness, nobility | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 48) | |||
| A reaction: A revealing Greek word, which is not only our rather pure notion of 'beauty', but also seems to mean something like wow!, and (very suggestive, this) applies as much to actions as to objects. |
| 11340 | Kath' hauto: in virtue of itself, essentially |
| Full Idea: Kath' hauto: in virtue of itself, essentially | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 51) |
| 11341 | Kinesis: movement, process |
| Full Idea: Kinesis: movement, process, change | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 52) |
| 11342 | Kosmos: order, universe |
| Full Idea: Kosmos: order, universe | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 53) |
| 11343 | Logos: reason, account, word |
| Full Idea: Logos: reason, account, word | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 54) |
| 11344 | Meson: the mean |
| Full Idea: Meson: the mean | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 55) | |||
| A reaction: This is not the 'average', and hence not some theoretical mid-point. I would call it the 'appropriate compromise', remembering that an extreme may be appropriate in certain circumstances. |
| 11345 | Metechein: partaking, sharing |
| Full Idea: Metechein: partaking, sharing | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 56) | |||
| A reaction: The key word in Plato for the difficult question of the relationships between the Forms and the particulars. The latter 'partake' of the former. Hm. Compare modern 'instantiation', which strikes me as being equally problematic. |
| 11377 | Mimesis: imitation, fine art |
| Full Idea: Mimesis: imitation, fine art | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 57) |
| 11346 | Morphe: form |
| Full Idea: Morphe: form | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 58) |
| 11347 | Noesis: intellection, rational thought [cf. Dianoia] |
| Full Idea: Noesis: intellection, rational thought [cf. Dianoia] | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 59) |
| 11348 | Nomos: convention, law, custom |
| Full Idea: Nomos: convention, law, custom | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 61) |
| 11349 | Nous: intuition, intellect, understanding |
| Full Idea: Nous: intuition, intellect | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 62) | |||
| A reaction: There is a condensed discussion of 'nous' in Aristotle's Posterior Analytics B.19 |
| 11350 | Orexis: desire |
| Full Idea: Orexis: desire | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 63) |
| 11351 | Ousia: substance, (primary) being, [see 'Prote ousia'] |
| Full Idea: Ousia: substance, (primary) being [see 'Prote ousia'] | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 64) | |||
| A reaction: It is based on the verb 'to be'. Latin therefore translated it as 'essentia' (esse: to be), and we have ended up translating it as 'essence', but this is wrong! 'Being' is the best translation, and 'substance' is OK. It is the problem, not the answer. |
| 11352 | Pathos: emotion, affection, property |
| Full Idea: Pathos: emotion, affection, property | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 65) |
| 11353 | Phantasia: imagination |
| Full Idea: Phantasia: imagination | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 66) |
| 11354 | Philia: friendship |
| Full Idea: Philia: friendship | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 67) |
| 11355 | Philosophia: philosophy, love of wisdom |
| Full Idea: Philosophia: philosophy, love of wisdom | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 68) | |||
| A reaction: The point of the word is its claim only to love wisdom, and not actually to be wise. |
| 11356 | Phronesis: prudence, practical reason, common sense |
| Full Idea: Phronesis: prudence, practical reason, common sense | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 71) | |||
| A reaction: None of the experts use my own translation, which is 'common sense', but that seems to me to perfectly fit all of Aristotle's discussions of the word in 'Ethics'. 'Prudence' seems a daft translation in modern English. |
| 11357 | Physis: nature |
| Full Idea: Physis: nature | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 72) |
| 11358 | Praxis: action, activity |
| Full Idea: Praxis: action, activity | |||
| From: PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 73) |