[Buddha-l] Energy and "The Word"

[Curt Steinmetz]

Logos is one of the most maddening Greek words in existence. One of my 
favorite usages is in Plato's Theaetetus where it is proposed as the 
defining distinction between "right opinion" and "knowledge": 
"knowledge" being "right opinion" *plus* an "account" of why the opinion 
is right. The word usually translated as "account" is actually "logos".

Even though the formula "right opinion plus an account" is very 
appealing, Socrates (being Socrates) finds reasons to reject it. But in 
doing so he, helpfully for our present purpose, investigates three 
different meanings of the word "logos":
http://www.iep.utm.edu/t/theatetu.htm#SH3d

Curt Steinmetz

Jim Peavler wrote:
> Thanks for bringing in "logos".  For some reason my ol mind froze this  
> morning without getting to it. it was the word I was searching for but  
> could not find in my currently scrambled word-hoard.
>
> On Jul 5, 2008, at 10:20 AM, Bob Zeuschner wrote:
>
>   
>> The way I learned it is that the Christian term "Word" is one English
>> rendering of the Greek LOGOS, and this technical term is explained in
>> great detail by Plotinus and the Neo-Platonists. Augustine also has a
>> commentary on Logos somewhere.
>> As I recall their explanation, Logos has nothing to do with expelling
>> air or sound waves.
>> As I read Genesis, Elohim is "brooding over the waters" before Elohim
>> creates the universe by SAYING (?) "Fiat Lux" (make it light).
>> Thus stuff exists before God creates, so it is not ex nihilo.
>> Bob
>>
>> Jim Peavler wrote:
>>     
>>> John, famously, begins his gospel with;
>>>
>>> 	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
>>> Word was God.
>>> 	The same was in the beginning with God.
>>> 	All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
>>> that was made.
>>> 	In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
>>> 	And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
>>> not.
>>>
>>> This is the only creation story I can recall offhand from the new
>>> testament. It tells the creation story all the way from the pre-
>>> creation to the beginning of the preaching career of John the  
>>> Baptist.
>>>
>>> I have a difficult time comprehending the "Word", as used here, as
>>> literally a spoken sound. It has to be some kind of truly  
>>> transcendent
>>> essence or power that comprises spirit, and mind, and existence,  
>>> and a
>>> host of other things that precede all things.
>>>
>>> And it seems to comprise all things that have ever been or can ever
>>> be. Maybe it is the opposite of "emptiness". Maybe it is "fullness".
>>> It may refer to the plenum.
>>>
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