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world soul

(Encyclopedia) world soul, Lat. anima mundi, in philosophy, term denoting a universal spirit or soul that functions as an organizing principle. While many early Greek philosophers saw the world as of…

Bembo, Pietro

(Encyclopedia) Bembo, PietroBembo, Pietropyāˈtrō bĕmˈbō [key], 1470–1547, Italian humanist, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A favorite of the Medici, he was secretary to Pope Leo X and was…

demiurge

(Encyclopedia) demiurgedemiurgedĕmˈēûrjˌ [key] [Gr.,=workman, craftsman], name given by Plato in a mythological passage in the Timaeus to the creator God. In Gnosticism the Demiurge, creator of the…

Aspasia

(Encyclopedia) AspasiaAspasiaăspāˈshə, –zhə [key], fl. mid-5th cent. b.c., Athenian courtesan. A woman of great beauty and intelligence, she became the mistress and, according to some poets, adviser…

apology

(Encyclopedia) apology [Gr.,=defense], literary work that defends, justifies, or clarifies an author's ideas or point of view. Unlike the ordinary use of the word, the literary use neither implies…

Brunschvicg, Léon

(Encyclopedia) Brunschvicg, LéonBrunschvicg, LéonlāôNˈ brünˈshvēk [key], 1869–1944, French philosopher, b. Paris. From 1909 until his death he taught at the Sorbonne. Brunschvicg's philosophy, which…

Gorgias

(Encyclopedia) GorgiasGorgiasgôrˈjēəs [key], c.485–c.380 b.c., Greek Sophist. From his native city, Leontini, Sicily, he was sent as an ambassador to Athens, where he settled to teach and practice…

closet drama

(Encyclopedia) closet drama, a play that is meant to be read rather than performed. Precursors of the form existed in classical times. Plato's Apology is often regarded as tragic drama rather than…

Eudoxus of Cnidus

(Encyclopedia) Eudoxus of CnidusEudoxus of Cnidusy&oomacr;dŏkˈsəs, nīˈdəs [key], 408?–355? b.c., Greek astronomer, mathematician, and physician. From the accounts of various ancient writers, he…

virtue

(Encyclopedia) virtue [Lat.,=manliness], in philosophy, quality of good in human conduct. The cardinal virtues, as presented by Plato, were wisdom (or prudence), courage, temperance, and justice.…