Arete need not be ethical; indeed it need not even be a trait of a person. It is a trait of anything, whatever that thing is, that makes it good at doing what that sort of thing characteristically does. Thus Plato can speak of the arete of a pruning knife.
Discovered in the German title of Werner Heisenberg's article on uncertainty relations (a cornerstone of modern quantum physics). As best as I can find it roughly translates as "intelligible".
As a Roman Catholic schoolchild, transubstantiation was the dogma that ignited my awareness of how mystical that theology was. Considering how diligently my parents and teachers were striving to foster my reason, logic, and scientific thought, this awareness inevitably led to contemplation and eventually my subscription to naturalism.
I have witnessed the reintroduction of the hard t in often among the educated during my lifetime. Perhaps merely because I am a curmudgeon, this grates against my nerves.
Currency? Bah. Sente is a a Japanese term from the game of Go for "initiative" or "control". The player with sente is the one choosing freely while the other (in gote) is forced to respond.
gerwitz commented on the word arete
From http://www.utilitarian.net/jsmill/about/20040322.htm
Oct 25, 2010
gerwitz commented on the word obduracy
Encountered as an apt description of Donald Rumsfeld in Robert Draper's article for GQ.
May 19, 2009
gerwitz commented on the word nommo
Bantu: the power of words to give life.
Feb 19, 2009
gerwitz commented on the word meridiem
Why do we use ante meridiem to denote time before noon and post meridiem to denote after noon yet never use meridiem for noon itself?
Feb 7, 2008
gerwitz commented on the word mayhaps
A sniglet of dubious value, but I cannot help myself.
Aug 15, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word done
I abhor the common use of done to mean finished.
Jul 31, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word waldeinsamkeit
A German word without a simple English equivalent, usually "the feeling of solitude in the forest."
Jul 31, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word anschaulich
Discovered in the German title of Werner Heisenberg's article on uncertainty relations (a cornerstone of modern quantum physics). As best as I can find it roughly translates as "intelligible".
Jul 31, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word lorem ipsum
I believe Lorem would make a wonderfully unique given name. Though I don't believe any woman will be willing to name her child thusly.
Jul 31, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word naturalism
A much softer and, for me, more accurate term than atheism.
Jul 30, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word transubstantiation
As a Roman Catholic schoolchild, transubstantiation was the dogma that ignited my awareness of how mystical that theology was. Considering how diligently my parents and teachers were striving to foster my reason, logic, and scientific thought, this awareness inevitably led to contemplation and eventually my subscription to naturalism.
Jul 30, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word whyever
Zounds! I can't believe I neglected the OED when searching for whyever. I've become far too dependant on the readily-accessible and online.
Jul 30, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word whyever
I don't care that no dictionary appears to include whyever. If wherever, whoever, and whatever are legitimate, then I'm using whyever.
Jul 30, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word transubstantiation
This concept is largely responsible for my naturalist philosophy.
Jul 29, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word often
I have witnessed the reintroduction of the hard t in often among the educated during my lifetime. Perhaps merely because I am a curmudgeon, this grates against my nerves.
Jul 28, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word sente
Do try out the introduction at Yahoo Games, and the wealth of information at Sensei's Library. Then try a few turn-based games at Dragon Go.
Jul 28, 2007
gerwitz commented on the list mountainous-words
zenith?
Jul 27, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word patina
an important element of wabi-sabi
Jul 27, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word sente
Currency? Bah. Sente is a a Japanese term from the game of Go for "initiative" or "control". The player with sente is the one choosing freely while the other (in gote) is forced to respond.
Jul 19, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word telekinesis
Is there a verb that means "exercising telekinesis"?
Jul 16, 2007
gerwitz commented on the word atrophy
I like atrophy salad.
Jul 16, 2007