ΦΙΛ- Names as character disposition
Abstract: The ancient Greek language was once alive, with a creative use of terms and the free formation of neologisms. Since Mycenaean times, the prefix φιλ- was employed to generate new words: proper and common names, adjectives and verbs, such as Philip, philanthropy, philharmonic and philosophize. This article begins by outlining the contemporary debate on these words, which locates Plato as a game changer in the development of their meaning. Next, it briefly addresses the so-called platonic love accord-ing to the alleged linguistic transposition it would have operated in the sense of the prefix φιλ-. The third section focuses on Plato’s account of the use and the formation of names in φιλ in the Republic and concludes that it is com-patible with their traditional meaning. I show that these terms are neither norm-policing names referring to “wannabes”, nor do they designate a nos-talgia towards an unreachable object. I conclude that φιλ- names have al-ways denoted a type of obsession, and Plato’s analysis both clarifies their logic and adds a psychological theory to explain their common reference, namely, a specific disposition of character.
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| Format: | Artículo biblioteca |
| Language: | spa |
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Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de estudios grecolatinos "Prof. F. Nóvoa"
2020
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| Subjects: | PLATONISMO, LENGUA LATINA, PALABRAS, FILOSOFIA ANTIGUA, |
| Online Access: | https://repositorio.uca.edu.ar/handle/123456789/13414 |
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