Greek words to know for Aristotle

Akrasia

The opposite of self-control. Usually involves a weakness of character (ethos) leading to agent following an urge rather than making a deliberate choice. This is distinct from a vice which is a ‘stable disposition’ (hexis) chosen deliberately. As a vice, this involves intemperate acts chosen for their own sake without the knowledge that they are wrong - this is much less curable.

Arete

Virtue. This allows human beings to achieve Eudaimonia.

Energeia

A real state of activity as distinct from a disposition. For instance Eudaimonia is the activity of behaving virtuously (with arete).

Ethos

Character - cultivated through virtue (arete).

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing, translated as ‘happiness’, but describing the energeia of a successful person rather than an inner or emotional state.

Hexis

Disposition - e.g. virtue (arete) is the disposition to behave in the correct way.

Phronesis

An intellectual virtue (arete) involved with turning moral instincts into good action in everyday life, cultivated through a process of habituation. Although sophia (wisdom) is a higher arete, the pursuit of Eudaimonia requires practical knowledge as this facilitates sophia.

Psuche

Soul - no Christian spiritual connotations. Describes the properties that distinguishes living things from non-living things. The nutritive part of the soul is common to all living things and involves basic functions such as reproduction. The appetitive part of the soul is common to humans and animals and involves emotions and desires. The rational part of the soul is unique to humans and involves intellect and wisdom - the proper ergon of humans is to exercise this allowing them to cultivate arete and attain Eudaimonia.

Telos

Final cause. The final cause of a human being is to achieve Eudaimonia. This is facilitated through the attainment of arete in accordance with all parts of the psuche. Most important are those associated with logos - the ergon of human beings.

Ergon

Proper function. The function of a human being is the activity of the psuche in accordance with logos. This is facilitated through arete.

Pathos

Feelings. A virtuous person is not only disposed to make the right decision but receives pleasure in doing so.

Logos

Reason. The ergon of a human being the activity of the psuche in accordance with this.