From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Character
ἦθος
ēthosĒthos means character; a characteristic disposition.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordĒthos means character; a characteristic disposition.
- In LysisAt 222a ἦθος is one possible respect in which a lover might be akin to the beloved.
- Reading contextThe surrounding argument still has to distinguish kinship from the likeness already rejected.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “In some character of the soul.”
- English renderings
- Character; a characteristic disposition
Meaning
Character; a characteristic disposition.
Grammatical category: neuter noun.
Use in the book
At 222a ἦθος is one possible respect in which a lover might be akin to the beloved. The phrase κατά τι τῆς ψυχῆς ἦθος specifies some character or disposition of the soul.
The word is part of an exploratory list, alongside τρόποι and εἶδος. It identifies a possible basis of affinity without proving that every shared disposition produces friendship. The surrounding argument still has to distinguish kinship from the likeness already rejected.
Places to read
- 222aκατά τι τῆς ψυχῆς ἦθος — In some character of the soul.
From the book
Stobaeus, Volume I
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Character
ἦθος
ēthosĒthos is character or an established way of behaving.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordĒthos is character or an established way of behaving.
- In StobaeusThe account of descent distinguishes souls assisting the world, souls training and correcting their own character, and souls undergoing punishment.
- In this edition“Character” is clear; “habits” may fit a narrower practical context.
- A place to beginCorrection of character defines one purpose of descent.
- English renderings
- character; habitual disposition
Meaning
Ēthos is character or an established way of behaving. Its plural can refer to traits or dispositions subject to training.
Use in the book
The account of descent distinguishes souls assisting the world, souls training and correcting their own character, and souls undergoing punishment. Character belongs to the second purpose, where embodiment serves an educative function. This prevents all descents from being reduced to the same punitive explanation.
Places to read
- I.49.40.4Correction of character defines one purpose of descent.
Translation in this edition
“Character” is clear; “habits” may fit a narrower practical context.
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 380. The author expressly presents this differentiation as his own judgment within the survey of accounts.
From the book
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volumes I–II
Joseph Joubert · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Character
caractère
Caractère can describe a person’s or people’s distinctive disposition, as well as what marks an author’s achievement.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordCaractère can describe a person’s or people’s distinctive disposition, as well as what marks an author’s achievement.
- In JoubertThe early link between accent and national character concerns a perceived affinity.
- In this editionThe English translation keeps character across these senses but its surrounding nouns specify the use.
- A place to beginAccent is related to national character.
- English renderings
- character; national character
Meaning
Caractère can describe a person’s or people’s distinctive disposition, as well as what marks an author’s achievement. It need not mean moral excellence.
Use in the book
The early link between accent and national character concerns a perceived affinity. Plato’s character is later identified through an eloquence that does not need passions to prevail. In the Fénelon comparison, a happy combination of mind, talent and character leads readers to credit him with more than he possesses. Character is thus also part of the effect a person produces on interpretation. The positive adjective “happy” need not identify that person’s internal emotional state.
Places to read
- I, p. 32, entry 2, ¶1Accent is related to national character.
- II, p. 495, entry 1, ¶1A distinctive eloquence characterizes Plato.
- II, p. 817, entry 3, ¶1Character helps an author receive more credit than the work warrants.
Translation in this edition
The English translation keeps character across these senses but its surrounding nouns specify the use. It retains the Fénelon paragraph’s subjectless “Had,” the editorial brackets and its qualifiers, including “perhaps” and “two or three,” rather than turning a nuanced comparison into a settled ranking.
Source note
Beaunier 1938, I, pp. 32; II, pp. 495, 817.