From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA polemical name for those who reject true arts while practising false ones.
- In the bookSophistæ likewise allows both masters of an art and deceivers as uses of a term.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 26; facsimile PDF page 354.
Historical definition
Idiotæ are people who despise true arts, although they are skilled practitioners of false ones.
Meaning
The entry judges a relation to arts rather than measuring a person’s intellectual capacity. Its contrast is between despising what the compiler calls true and skilfully professing what the compiler calls false. The concession of skill is part of the point.
Use in the book
Sophistæ likewise allows both masters of an art and deceivers as uses of a term. Magia distinguishes lawful natural wisdom from an unlawful kind. These comparisons show that the dictionary preserves evaluative vocabulary as well as material names. Its judgements should be recognised as historical classifications.
Places to read
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 26; facsimile PDF page 354 — Facsimile