Philomath
{{short description|Lover of learning}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Philosophy sidebar}}
A philomath ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɪ|l|ə|m|æ|θ}}){{refn|{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Philomath |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507072519/https://www.lexico.com/definition/philomath |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-05-07 |title=Philomath |dictionary=Lexico UK English Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press}} }} is a lover of learning and studying.
The term is from Greek {{Transliteration|grc|philos}} ({{lang|grc|φίλος}}; "beloved", "loving", as in philosophy or philanthropy) and {{Transliteration|grc|manthanein}}, {{Transliteration|grc|math-}} ({{lang|grc|μανθάνειν}}, {{lang|grc|μαθ-}}; "to learn", as in polymath).
Philomathy is similar to, but distinguished from, philosophy in that {{Transliteration|grc|-soph}}, the latter suffix, specifies "wisdom" or "knowledge", rather than the process of acquisition thereof. Philomath is not synonymous with polymath, as a polymath is someone who possesses great and detailed knowledge and facts from a variety of disciplines, while a philomath is someone who greatly enjoys learning and studying.
Overview
The shift in meaning for {{transliteration|grc|mathema}} is likely a result of the rapid categorization during the time of Plato and Aristotle of their {{transliteration|grc|mathemata}} in terms of education: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the quadrivium), which the Greeks found to create a "natural grouping" of mathematical (in the modern usage; "{{lang|la|doctrina mathematica}}" in the ancient usage) precepts.
In a philosophical dialogue, King James penned the character Philomathes to debate on arguments of whether the ancient religious concepts of witchcraft should be punished in a politically fueled Christian society. The arguments King James poses through the character Epistemon are based on concepts of theological reasoning regarding society's belief, as his opponent, Philomathes, takes a philosophical stance on society's legal aspects but seeks to obtain the knowledge of Epistemon. This philosophical approach signified a philomath seeking to obtain greater knowledge through epistemology. The dialogue was used by King James to educate society on various concepts including the history and etymology of the subjects debated.{{cite book|last1=King James|title=Daemonologie|edition=critical|language=en|year=2016|orig-year=1597|isbn=1-5329-6891-4}}
See also
- Benjamin Franklin, who used this pen name
- Philomath, Oregon
- Philomathean Literary Society (Erskine College)
- Philomathean Society, a literary society at the University of Pennsylvania
- Philomathean Society (New York University)
- Philomaths, Polish secret student organization that existed, 1817–1823, at the Imperial University of Vilnius
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{wiktionary|philomath}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/philomath|title=philomath|website=Dictionary.com}}
{{Virtues}}
{{Authority control}}