What is Arete in Greek philosophy?

Arete (Greek: ἀρετή) is a concept in ancient Greek thought that, in its most basic sense, refers to “excellence” of any kind. In its earliest appearance in Greek, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one’s full potential.

Where does the Greek word Arete come from?

In ancient Greece, arete meant “goodness” or “excellence”. It’s related to araomai, to pray, and to aristos, meaning “the best.” That’s where the word “aristocracy” comes from. Aristocracy is the rule of the best people.

How did Plato define Arete?

(Greek, the goodness or excellence of a thing) The goodness or virtue of a person. In the thought of Plato and Aristotle virtue is connected with performing a function (ergon), just as an eye is good if it performs its proper function of vision. This is its telos or purpose (see also teleology).

What is the Arete moral excellence all about?

In the moment of excellence, something transcends the mundane and touches the Ideal. For Plato, arete is mainly associated with moral excellence. It is superordinate to specific moral virtues of Courage, Temperance, Justice, etc.; something they all share, a special, unnamed quality, their essence.

What is the meaning of Arete in Greek philosophy?

Virtue in Greek philosophy – Definition of arete. Arete in action: Penelope and her slave watch Odysseus kill the suitors. In ancient Greece, arete meant “goodness” or “excellence”. It’s related to araomai, to pray, and to aristos, meaning “the best.” That’s where the word “aristocracy” comes from.

What did the ancient Greeks do with their Arete?

…sound body (often expressed as arete, or “virtue”) was cultivated in the gymnasiums, where young men exercised, bathed, socialized, and discussed philosophy. Finally, the Greeks employed physical culture as a form of preventive medicine and as a means of recuperating from illnesses and weaknesses. Hippocrates ( c. 460–377 bce) believed that…

Which is the correct spelling arete or arete?

TIP: The term can be stylized as Arête, Areté, or Arete. In Greek it is αρετη stylized ἀρετή. As you may be picking up on already, arete is a broad catch-all concept used by the Greeks of which there is no English equivalent (nor is there one definition in the Greek texts).

How did Plato develop the concept of Arete?

Introducing our section on the nature of virtue, Philip Vassallo describes how the ancient conception of arête arose and developed. In discussing arête, Plato leads the examination of humankind’s quest for excellence. Henry Marrou describes arête as “the ideal value to which even life itself must be sacrificed.”