论希腊词“爱米”的词根与原初含义

On the Root and Primitive Significance of Greek eimi

希腊词"爱米"(eimi)是西方哲学的基因。通过探讨"爱米"的词根与原初含义,可以发现学界前期相关讨论中忽略的问题。希腊语的文献材料尽管连续且悠久,但尚不足以让我们追溯其源头。探究"爱米"的系动词结构与原初含义要使用发生学的方法,而不能用统计语言材料的方法。只有考察了"爱米"的若干印欧语词根的含义,方能揭示"爱米"的原初含义。

Language is the basic element of the development of culture, and is also the basic component of the theoretical philosophy. The Greek word eimi （εiεi） is such a gene of Western philosophy. It attracted great attentions of the Chinese philosophical scholars in the long-lasting discussions about ＂Being,＂ because a serial of philosophical and metaphysical problems in the later Western history, and even some fundamental problems of modern Chinese philosophy, originated from this word.