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Full Idea
The Greek 'episteme' is usually translated as 'knowledge' but, I argue, closer to our notion of understanding.
Gist of Idea
'Episteme' is better translated as 'understanding' than as 'knowledge'
Source
Alexander Nehamas (Introduction to 'Virtues of Authenticity' [1999], p.xvi)
Book Ref
Nehamas,Alexander: 'Virtues of Authenticity' [Princeton 1999], p.-21
A Reaction
He agrees with Julia Annas on this. I take it to be crucial. See the first sentence of Aristotle's 'Metaphysics'. It is explanation which leads to understanding.
Related Idea
Idea 12038 Translate as 'humans all desire by nature to understand' (not as 'to know') [Aristotle, by Annas]
17951 | A logos may be short, but it contains reference to the whole domain of the object [Nehamas] |
17950 | The logos enables us to track one particular among a network of objects [Nehamas] |
17944 | 'Episteme' is better translated as 'understanding' than as 'knowledge' [Nehamas] |
17945 | Forms are not a theory of universals, but an attempt to explain how predication is possible [Nehamas] |
17946 | Only Tallness really is tall, and other inferior tall things merely participate in the tallness [Nehamas] |