Pleonexia (which originated from the Greek language πλεονεξια) is a philsophical concept employed both in the New Testament and in writings by Plato and Aristotle. It roughly corresponds to greed, covetousness, or avarice, and is strictly defined as "the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others", suggesting what Ritenbaugh describes as "ruthless self-seeking and an arrogant assumption that others and things exist for one's own benefit".^[1] Greek (, IPA — Hellenic) has a documented history of 3,500 years, the longest of any single language within the Indo-European family. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ... Aristotle (Greek: AristotélÄ“s) (384 BC – March 7, 322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. ... Look up greed in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Christian concepts of pleonexia

Pleonexia, being mentioned in the New Testament in Colossians 3 verses 1–11 and Luke 12 verses 13–21, has been the subject of commentary by Christian theologians. John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... The Epistle to the Colossians is a book of the Bible New Testament. ... The Gospel of Luke is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament, which tell the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. ...

William Barclay^[2] describes pleonexia as an "accursed love of having", which "will pursue its own interests with complete disregard for the rights of others, and even for the considerations of common humanity". He labels it an aggressive vice that operates in three spheres of life. In the material sphere involves "grasping at money and goods, regardless of honour and honesty". In the ethical sphere it is "the ambition which tramples on others to gain something which is not properly meant for it". In the moral sphere, it is "the unbridled lust which takes its pleasure where it has no right to take".

Christian belief equates pleonexia with idolatry, because it replaces God with self-interest and material interest in things.^[1] Idolatry is a major sin in the Abrahamic religions regarding image. ...

Classical Greek concepts of pleonexia

Classical Greek philosophers such as Plato related pleonexia to justice. For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ...

Thrasymachus, in Book I of The Republic, presents pleonexia as a natural state, upon which justice is an unnatural restraint.^[3] Thrasymachus (c 459-400 BCE) was a sophist of Ancient Greece best known as a character in Platos Republic. ... The Republic (Greek ) is an influential work of philosophy and political theory by the Greek philosopher Plato, written in approximately 390 BC. It is written in the format of a Socratic dialogue. ...

In discussing the philosophy of Aristotle, who insisted in his Nicomachean Ethics that all specifically unjust actions are motivated by pleonexia, Kraut^[4] discusses pleonexia and equates it to epichairekakia, the Greek version of schadenfreude, stating that inherent in pleonexia is the appeal of acting unjustly at the expense of others. Young^[5], however argues that the simple involvement of unfairness in the desire for gaining ever more is what defines pleonexia, rather than that the desire itself be for gaining ever more in a manner that is specifically unfair. Aristotle (Greek: Aristotélēs) (384 BC – March 7, 322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. ... Nicomachean Ethics (sometimes spelled Nichomachean), or Ta Ethika, is a work by Aristotle on virtue and character which plays a prominent role in defining Aristotelian ethics. ... Look up Schadenfreude in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

References

1. ^ ^a b John W. Ritenbaugh (January 1998). Forerunner. The Tenth Commandment.
2. ^ William Barclay. The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed.. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.
3. ^ Important terms: pleonexia. SparkNotes: The Republic. Barnes & Noble.
4. ^ Richard Kraut (2002). Aristotle: Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, xiv, 520. ISBN 0-19-878200-4., cited by David Keyt (2003-02-07). Review. Bryn Mawr Classical Review.
5. ^ Charles Young (1989). "Aristotle on Justice". The Southern Journal of Philosophy 27 (Supp.): 233–249., also cited by Keyt

2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Further reading

• Keimpe Algra (August 1996). “Observations on Plato's Thrasymachus: The Case for Pleonexia”, Keimpe A. Algra, Pieter W. van der Horst, and David T. Runia Polyhistor: Studies in the History and Historiography of Ancient Philosophy, Presented to Jaap Mansfeld on his Sixtieth Birthday. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 41–59. ISBN 9004104178.
• (1988) "Injustice and Pleonexia in Aristotle: A Reply to Charles Young". Aristotle's Ethics, supplementary volume of The Southern Journal of Philosophy: 251–257.
• Ryan Balot (2001). "Aristotle's critique of phaleas : Justice, equality, and pleonexia". Hermes 129 (1): 32–44.
• Ryan K. Balot (2001). “1: Introduction”, Greed and Injustice in Classical Athens. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-04855-X.

External links

• Strong's Greek Dictionary
• Answers.com (pleonexia ref.)