Good Use of AI: Classics for NT folk

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Jonathan Robie
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Good Use of AI: Classics for NT folk

Post by Jonathan Robie »

I was missing part of this sentence from the Nichomachean Ethics, so I asked GPT to explain this to someone who knows NT Greek but hasn't read much Classical Greek.

Here's what I asked:
I'm better at NT greek than this ;-> help me understand each phrase.
Here's what it gave me - I'll have to try this for Homer next ...
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics III.6 (1113a14–15) — Phrase-by-Phrase

Text
ἡ δ᾽ ἀρετὴ ἕξις προαιρετικὴ, ἐν μεσότητι οὖσα τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὡρισμένη λόγῳ καὶ ᾧ ἂν ὁ φρόνιμος ὁρίσειεν.
Phrase by phrase

ἡ δ᾽ ἀρετὴ
  • hē d’ aretē = “Now virtue…”
  • ἀρετή = virtue, excellence (broad sense, not only “moral”)
  • δέ = transitional particle (“and / but / now”)
ἕξις προαιρετικὴ
  • hexis proairetikē = “a disposition concerned with choice”
  • ἕξις = settled state / habit / disposition (something you “have” steadily)
  • προαιρετική (from προαίρεσις) = pertaining to deliberate choice / decision
ἐν μεσότητι οὖσα τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς
  • en mesotēti ousa tē pros hēmas = “being in a mean, relative to us”
  • ἐν μεσότητι = “in a mean / middle point” (not a strict average, but the right balance)
  • οὖσα = participle of εἰμί, “being”
  • τῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς = “the [mean] relative to us” (person- and situation-relative)
ὡρισμένη λόγῳ
  • hōrismenē logō = “defined by reason”
  • ὡρισμένη = perfect passive participle of ὁρίζω (“to define, mark off, set a boundary”)
  • λόγῳ (dat.) = “by reason / rational account”
καὶ ᾧ ἂν ὁ φρόνιμος ὁρίσειεν
  • kai hō(i) an ho phronimos horiseien = “and as the practically wise person would define it”
  • φρόνιμος = prudent / practically wise
  • ὁρίσειεν = aorist optative of ὁρίζω (“would define / would determine”)
  • ἄν + optative = potential construction (“would”)
Putting it together
Virtue is a settled disposition concerned with deliberate choice, being a mean relative to us, defined by reason and as the practically wise person would define it.”
NT Greek touchpoints (to feel the words)
  • ἕξις (disposition/habit): cf. Heb 5:14 — faculties “trained” (γεγυμνασμένα) to discern good/evil.
  • προαίρεσις (deliberate choice): stronger/technical vs. NT αἱρέομαι “choose”; emphasizes rational, moral decision.
  • μεσότης (mean): no direct NT term; think of Phil 4:5 τὸ ἐπιεικὲς (gentleness/moderation).
  • ὁρίζω (define/appoint): Acts 17:26, 31 — God “appointed/defined” times and a day (ὁρίσας… ἡμέραν ὥρισεν).
  • φρόνιμος (wise/prudent): Matt 7:24; 25:2 — the “wise” builder/virgins (φρόνιμοι)—practical wisdom in action.
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/
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