Language/Modern-greek-1453/Culture/Greek-Philosophical-Terms

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Some Greek Philosophical Terms[edit | edit source]

  • Hyle (Ὕλη): Aristotle's term for "prime matter," the fundamental substance that underlies all physical objects. It is shaped and given form by "morphe." Thomas Aquinas translated it as "material prima." The concept originated from Aristotle's critique of Anaximander's idea of "apeiron."
  • Morphe (Μορφή): Aristotle's concept of "form," which shapes and gives structure to "hyle" (prime matter), resulting in the tangible objects of the world. The Latin translation is "forma."
  • Apeiron (Ἄπειρον): Anaximander's concept of the original or prime matter, which is boundless and limitless. The term translates to "unlimited."
  • Logos (Λόγος): A Greek term that means "reason" or "giving an account." Plato emphasized the importance of dialogue for revealing logos. Socrates believed that logos spoke through him in Platonic dialogues. The Latin translation is "ratio."
  • Sophia (Σοφία): Wisdom, considered an intellectual virtue by Aristotle. It contrasts with "phronesis," which is practical knowledge. The term is also used pejoratively to describe Sophists, who were seen as falsely claiming wisdom.
  • Phronesis (Φρόνησις): Practical knowledge or wisdom, which enables a person to live a good life.
  • Pragmata (Πράγματα): Objects or things considered from a practical perspective rather than a theoretical one.
  • Episteme (Ἐπιστήμη): Plato's term for knowledge that is justified through reasoned argument (logos). It is the result of combining opinion (doxa) with logos.
  • Kosmos (Κόσμος): The world or universe, understood as having an orderly and harmonious arrangement. The term also refers to the known or discovered world in non-philosophical contexts.
  • On (Ὄν): Being. The term "onta" (ὄντα) refers to multiple beings. The root of the word "ontology."
  • Kosmos Noetos (Νοητός Κόσμος): Plato's concept of the transcendent world of forms, which is the true reality.
  • Eidos (Εἶδος): Plato's term for "forms," the eternal and unchanging archetypes of the sensible world.
  • Eidon (Εἴδων): Image or representation. Refers to the imperfect copies of the "eidos" (forms) found in the sensible world.
  • Kosmos Aisthetos (Αἰσθητός Κόσμος): Plato's term for the sensible world, which is the world of appearances.
  • Aisthesis (Αἴσθησις): Sensation or perception. The Latin translation is "sensatio."
  • Nous, Noesis (Νοῦς, Νόησις): Intellect and intellection, respectively. The Latin translation is "intellectio." Anaxagoras used "nous" to refer to a cosmic mind.
  • Philo, Philein (Φιλώ, φιλεῖν): Love and to love, respectively. The first part of the word "philosophy."
  • Physis(Φύσις): Nature or the natural world, understood as a dynamic and creative force. Aristotle referred to pre-Socratic philosophers as "physicists" (physikoi).
  • Psyche (Ψυχή): The soul. The root of the word "psychology."
  • Atoma (Ἄτομο): Indivisible. Democritus's concept of the basic units of the world.
  • Energeia (Ἐνέργεια): Aristotle's concept of act or actuality.
  • Dynamis (Δύναμις): The power or potential in things. Aristotle's concept of potentiality.
  • Homo mensura: (Latin) Man is the measure. Protagoras's theory of epistemological relativism.
  • Chorismos (Χωρισμός): The ontological separation between the world of forms and the world of appearance.
  • To On, panta einai hen (Τὸ Ὄν, πάντα εἶναι ἕν): Being, all is one. A distinction between absolute non-being and relative non-being, first mentioned by Parmenides.
  • Dialektike (Διαλεκτική): Dialectic, derived from the Greek verb "lego" and the prefix "dia-." Refers to the process of reasoning through dialogue and separation.
  • Eros (Ἔρως): Love, often associated with passionate or erotic love, as opposed to Platonic love.
  • Hypodoche (Ὑποδοχή): Plato's term for the primal stuff or receptacle that coexists with the perfect forms. The Demiurge shapes this stuff into the sensible world.
  • Hypokeimenon (Ὑποκείμενον): Aristotle's concept of substance or substratum, which persists through change. Translated as "subiectum" by medieval philosophers.
  • Aporia (Ἀπορία): Impasse or dead-end. Refers to the state of being unable to find a way out of a philosophical problem. Associated with early Platonic dialogues.
  • Ergon (Ἔργον): A completed work, as opposed to "energeia," the work in progress or the actualization of the work.
  • Axios (Ἄξιος): Value or worth. The root of the word "axiology," the study of value in ethics and political philosophy.
  • Nomos (Νόμος): Law, custom, convention. The term has been used to refer to both divine law and conventional law.
  • Hedone (Ἡδονή): Pleasure. The root of the word "hedonism."
  • Theos (Θεός): God. The root of words such as "theology" and "theophany."
  • Hieros (Ἱερός): Sacred. The root of the word "hierophany," the revelation of the sacred.
  • Agathon (Ἀγαθόν): The Good, as described in Plato's Republic. Distinct from "theos" (God).
  • Arche (Ἀρχή): The first or the principle. Refers to the origin or starting point of something.
  • Gnosis (Γνῶσις): Knowledge. The root of the word "agnostic."
  • Deontos (Δέοντος): Duty or obligation
  • . The root of the term "deontological," referring to ethics based on duty or moral rules.
  • Doxa (Δόξα): Opinion or belief. In Plato's philosophy, it refers to the imperfect knowledge obtained from the sensible world, as opposed to true knowledge from the realm of Forms.
  • Monas (Μόνας): Unity or oneness. The term is related to the concept of individual units or singularities, such as Leibniz's "monads."
  • Polis (Πόλις): City or city-state. Originally referred to a fort or citadel, later used to describe Greek city-states. The root of the word "politics."
  • Telos (Τέλος): End, purpose, or goal. The root of the term "teleological," referring to ethics based on the end or purpose of actions.
  • Dike (Δίκη): Justice or law. Refers to the concept of retribution or balance, as in Anaximander's philosophy.
  • Aletheia (Ἀλήθεια): Truth, understood as unveiling or uncovering. Martin Heidegger suggested returning to this concept of truth as opposed to modern correspondence or coherence theories of truth.
  • Elenchos (Ἔλεγχος): Examination, refutation, or interrogation. Refers to Socrates' method of questioning in early Platonic dialogues.
  • Entelecheia (Ἐντελέχεια): Actuality or fulfillment. Refers to the inherent purpose or end within something, allowing it to actualize its potential.
  • Sophrosyne (Σωφροσύνη): Temperance or moderation. Refers to moral soundness achieved through the harmony of desires, emotions, and reason.
  • Dianoia (Διάνοια): Discursive thinking. In Plato's philosophy, it is the type of cognition that connects mathematical forms to geometrical and numerical figures in the world of appearance.
  • Anamnesis (Ἀνάμνησις): Recollection or remembrance. Refers to Plato's theory of recollection.
  • Arete (Ἀρετή): Virtue or excellence. Refers to the quality of functioning well or achieving excellence in a particular role or function.
  • Daimon (Δαίμων): Spirit or divine power. In Socrates' philosophy, it refers to an inner voice or conscience.
  • Demiourgos (Δημιουργός): Creator or craftsman. In Plato's Timaeus, it refers to the divine craftsman who shapes the world of appearances using the Forms.
  • Diairesis (Διαίρεσις): Division or distinction. Refers to Plato's method of division, as described in the Phaedrus and the Sophist.
  • Eudaimonia (Εὐδαιμονία): Happiness or well-being. Refers to a state of flourishing or fulfillment, often considered the ultimate goal of life.
  • Theoria (Θεωρία): Contemplation or observation. In Aristotle's philosophy, it refers to the activity of the intellect that requires demonstration.
  • Megalopsychia (Μεγαλοψυχία): Greatness of soul or magnanimity. Refers to the virtue of knowing one's worth and acting with nobility.
  • Ousia (Οὐσία): Substance or essence. Aristotle's term for
  • the fundamental being or nature of something.
  • Epoche (Ἐποχή): Suspension or withholding of judgment. Refers to Pyrrho's concept of suspending belief or judgment.
  • Ataraxia (Ἀταραξία): Tranquility or imperturbability. Refers to Pyrrho's concept of a state of inner peace or calmness, achieved through the suspension of judgment.


Note: The above definitions are provided for educational purposes and may not capture the full complexity of the original Greek philosophical concepts.


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Author[edit source]

Marianthi

  • Ευγενική χορηγία που στοχεύει να βοηθήσει μαθητές ή μη, απανταχού της Γης, που επιδίδονται στην εκμάθηση της ελληνικής γλώσσας!
  • Contribution bénévole visant à aider les personnes, partout dans le monde, qui sont engagées dans l'apprentissage de la langue grecque !
  • Voluntary contribution aimed at helping people, all over the world, who are committed to learning the Greek language! 

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