From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordSpoudē means earnest concern; serious attention or effort.
- In LysisThe father’s σπουδή is directed ultimately towards his son, although it is expressed through securing wine and a vessel.
- Reading contextThis is an account of priority in valuation, not a denial that instrumental objects receive any care.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “All such earnest concern.”
- English renderings
- Earnest concern; serious attention or effort
Meaning
Earnest concern; serious attention or effort.
Grammatical category: feminine noun.
Use in the book
The father’s σπουδή is directed ultimately towards his son, although it is expressed through securing wine and a vessel. Socrates uses the noun to identify what the whole practical effort is really about.
The related perfect ἐσπουδασμένη reinforces the concern expended. The distinction is between concern resting on the things prepared and concern directed to that for whose sake they are prepared. This is an account of priority in valuation, not a denial that instrumental objects receive any care.
Places to read
- 219eπᾶσα ἡ τοιαύτη σπουδὴ — All such earnest concern.