美学史前史考察——古希腊“美”的概念之词源学辨析

The Study on Pre-history of Aesthetics:An Etymological Analysis of the Concept“Beauty”in Ancient Greece Tradition

作为建立于西方传统之上的美学,要考察美的本质,必须回到古希腊传统之中。在古希腊语中,表达"美"的词语通常是■,其含义与用法较现代美学意义上的"美"(beauty)更为广泛,不仅用于人,也用于自然事物及道德意义上善的行为。通过对古希腊Kállos一词的词源学考察,有助于厘清它在古希腊文本中的含义及使用情况,及其与aesthetics含义的区别,有助于我们对美学的起源、发展及演变做出更为清晰的把握。

As aesthetics is based on the Western tradition,we should return to the ancient Greek tradition if an investigation on the essence of beauty is to be made.“Kállos”was the term to express“beauty”in ancient Greek,the meaning of which is more extensive than“beauty”in the sense of modern aesthetics.It is not only used for people,but also for natural things and moral good behaviors.Through the etymological study of“Kállos”in ancient Greece,it is helpful to clarify its meaning and usage in ancient Greek texts,as well as the difference from the meaning of aesthetics,which enables us to have a good mastery of the origin,development and evolution of aesthetics.