Physis
Physis (Greek: φύσις) is a Greek theological, philosophical, and scientific term usually translated into English as "nature."
Contents |
[edit] Classical usage
In The Odyssey, Homer uses the word physis once, its earliest known occurrence, referring to the intrinsic way of growth of a particular species of plant.[1] The term occurs very early in Greek philosophy, as early as the pre-Socratic philosophers, and in a number of meanings; generally, these match rather well the current senses in which the English word nature is used.[2][3] In the Sophist tradition, the term stood in opposition to nomos (νόμος), "law" or "custom," in the debate on which parts of human existence are natural, and which due to convention.[4] This debate brought about early statements of cultural relativism, most notably by Herodotus.[5] Since Aristotle, the physical (the subject matter of physics, properly τὰ φυσικά "natural things") has often been contrasted with metaphysical (the subject of metaphysics).[6]
[edit] Modern usage
The etymology of the word "physical" shows its use as a synonym for "natural" in about the mid-15th century.[7] "Physis" was understood by Thoreau as coming from darkness into light, biologically, cosmically, cognitively (Walden Pond, 'Spring'). In medicine the element -physis occurs in such compounds as symphysis, epiphysis, and a few others, in the sense of a growing. The physis also refers to the "growth plate," or site of growth at the end of long bones.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
 |
Look up φύσις in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- ^ Homer's text: ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας, καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε. (So saying, Argeiphontes [=Hermes] gave me the herb, drawing it from the ground, and showed me its nature.) Odyssey 10.302-3 (ed. A.T. Murray).
- ^ Guthrie, W. K. C., Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus (volume 2 of his History of Greek Philosophy), Cambridge UP, 1965.
- ^ Naddaf, Gerard The Greek Concept of Nature, SUNY Press, 2006.
- ^ Dunkie, Roger (1986). "Philosophical background of the 5th Century B.C.". The Classical Origins of Western Culture: The Core Studies 1 Study Guide. Brooklyn College Core Curriculum Series. Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn College. http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/sophists.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ^ Herodotus (~440 BCE). "The History of Herodotus, Book III". The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Herodotus/history.3.iii.html#613. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ^ Discussed in Aristotle's works so titled, Physics and Metaphysics
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "Physical". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=physical. Retrieved September 20, 2006.
