ΑΡΕΤΗ
Arete is not "virtue" in the Christian moral sense but excellence, the perfection of a being in its kind. In Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics II.6) it is defined as "a disposition to choose" (hexis prohairetike) — a stable state of choosing. Its mathematical isopsephy with dokimos (he who endures testing) binds virtue to its ongoing verification.
REPORT ERRORDefinition
According to LSJ, arete means "excellence of any kind, distinction"; from there "manly courage," "moral virtue," "worth," "reputation." The root is connected to aristos — the best.
In the archaic meaning (Homer), arete is par excellence martial bravery — what makes one a superior warrior. In Hesiod and the lyric poets, the meaning expands to every kind of excellence — in citizen, in horseman, in athlete.
With Socrates and Plato, arete becomes ethical/epistemological: Socrates argues that arete is knowledge (episteme) — no one errs willingly, but only from ignorance. Plato develops the four "cardinal" virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice (Republic 427e).
Aristotle gives the most complete definition (Nicomachean Ethics II.6, 1106b36): arete is "a disposition concerned with choice, lying in a mean" — a stable state of choosing, which lies in the mean between two extremes.
Etymology
Related: ἄριστος, ἀριστεύω, ἀριστεία, ἀρέσκω ("to please," originally "to fit"), ἁρμονία (from ἁρμός = "joint"). In Latin: virtus (etymologically from vir = "man" — bravery as male excellence, a parallel evolution with Greek arete).
Main Meanings
- Excellence, distinction — the general meaning — what makes something best in its kind.
- Homeric bravery — martial virtue — what makes one a hero.
- Arete as craft — the arete of the craftsman, the physician, the sailor (Plato, Meno 73c-d).
- Socratic arete — virtue as episteme — "no one is willingly bad."
- Cardinal virtues — the four Platonic: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice.
- Aristotelian hexis — stable disposition of choice in the mean (N.E. 1106b36).
- Stoic arete — the only true good — other things are "indifferent."
- Theological virtues — in NT/scholastic tradition: faith, hope, love (1 Cor. 13:13).
Philosophical Journey
Arete is the most systematically elaborated concept of ancient ethical philosophy. Every school tried to redefine it.
In Ancient Texts
Four passages covering the full spectrum:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΑΡΕΤΗ is 414, from the sum of its letter values:
414 decomposes into 400 (hundreds) + 10 (tens) + 4 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΑΡΕΤΗ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 414 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 9 | 4+1+4=9 — Ennead, number of fullness and perfect completion |
| Letter Count | 5 | 5 letters — Pentad, the five core virtues (4 cardinal + 1 justice as harmony) |
| Cumulative | 4/10/400 | Units 4 · Tens 10 · Hundreds 400 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Α-Ρ-Ε-Τ-Η | Courage, Strength, Habit, Perfect, Ethical (interpretive) |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 1SV · 1M | 3 vowels (Α,Ε,Η) · 1 semi-vowel (Ρ) · 1 mute (Τ) — balanced structure |
| Palindromes | Yes (numeric) | Number reads same reversed |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Mercury ☿ / Libra ♎ | 414 mod 7 = 1 · 414 mod 12 = 6 |
Isopsephic Words (414)
Arete has 52 isopsephic words in LSJ. The most significant illuminate virtue as testing, as mourning of discipline, and as opposite to madness.
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 52 words with lexarithmos 414. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Entries ἀρετή, ἄριστος.
- Homer — Iliad, the archaic meaning (martial excellence).
- Hesiod — Works and Days 289-292 (the road of virtue).
- Plato — Meno, Protagoras, Laches, Republic IV (427e-434d, cardinal virtues).
- Aristotle — Nicomachean Ethics II (1103a-1109b), the foundational definition.
- Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius — Stoic developments of virtue as the only good.
- 1 Corinthians 13 — the three theological virtues.
- MacIntyre, A. — After Virtue (1981). Modern revival of virtue ethics.