Semantics of Word «ἦθος» in Ancient Greek Culture in 8–6 BC

Abstract

The article sets a goal to show a collection of senses, which this word represents and which allows Aristotle in the «Nicomachean Ethics» to base moral virtues on a habit. It makes the connection disposition and habits a condition for the effectiveness of ethics as a practical science. Primarily this connection is established by identity concepts «disposition» (ἦθος) and «habits» (ἔθος). It is not obvious outside the ancient Greek language and culture and needs further explanation.

The article analyzes an usage of word «ἦθος» in ancient Greek texts to Aristotle. Additionally methodological limitations of the analysis are stipulate: 1) refusal to use of linguistic conceptions, if they build self-sufficient explanatory schemes of language development; 2) use only well-preserved texts in which a narrative is not broken. The first limitation saves from complications study by multiplication of conceptions, allows us to make a minimum deformation of meanings of word, when the context of its usage is examined. The second limitation alsosaves from complications study and demands that the textual context of usage of a word was the most free of the reconstruction. The method is called – the word in the text observation.

Three conclusionsare drawn as a result of the analysis: 1) the understanding of an order of dispensation of group life is makes precise by the differentiation of the internal and external; similarity and differences of concepts «ἦθος» and «νόμος» shows it; 2) the understanding of the internal order is makes precise by the differentiation of the general and the particular; the development of similarity of concepts «ἦθος» and «ἔθος» shows it; 3) these are just the functioning of the word «ἦθος» in ancient Greek culture allowed Aristotle to include the habit in his ethical conception, when he focuses an attention on the internal gradually formed order.