ΑΠΛΗΣΤΙΑ
Aplastia (ἀπληστία), a concept deeply rooted in ancient Greek philosophy and ethics, describes an insatiable desire for more, a lack of measure and satiety. From Plato, who linked it to the tyrannical soul, to the Apostle Paul, who characterized it as "idolatry," this word signifies a fundamental human failing. Its lexarithmos (630) suggests a connection to fullness and order, which insatiability itself disrupts.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ἀπληστία (from ἀ- privative + πλῆσις "filling") means "insatiability, unappeasable desire, greed." It describes the state of one who cannot be satisfied, whether concerning food, wealth, or any other desire. The word denotes the absence of limit or measure in desire, a fundamental concept in ancient Greek thought regarding ethics and sophrosyne (self-control).
In classical philosophy, particularly in Plato, ἀπληστία is closely associated with the lower, appetitive part of the soul (τὸ ἐπιθυμητικόν) and is considered a source of injustice and unhappiness. The insatiable person, whether a tyrant or an ordinary citizen, is enslaved by their passions and incapable of true eudaimonia (flourishing). The absence of satiety leads to a perpetual cycle of desire and disappointment.
In the New Testament, the word acquires an even more intense ethical and theological dimension. The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Colossians (3:5), equates ἀπληστία with idolatry, emphasizing that the insatiable desire for material or worldly things displaces God from the central position in human life. Thus, insatiability is not merely a moral weakness but a spiritual apostasy, a worship of self and passions.
Etymology
Cognate words sharing the same root πλησ- / πλε- include the verb πίμπλημι ("to fill"), the adjective πλήρης ("full, complete"), the noun πλῆθος ("multitude, great number"), the verb πληρόω ("to fill, to complete"), and the noun πλήρωμα ("fullness, that which fills"). All these words revolve around the idea of completeness, quantity, and satiety, from which ἀπληστία represents the negative deviation.
Main Meanings
- Insatiability, unappeasable desire — The general sense of being unable to be satisfied, to reach satiety, regardless of the object.
- Gluttony, voracity — Excessive and insatiable desire for food and drink. (Plato, Republic 586b).
- Sexual intemperance, lust — Insatiable desire for carnal pleasures. (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1119a).
- Avarice, covetousness — Insatiable desire for wealth and material possessions, greed for gain.
- Philosophical sense: Lack of measure — In Platonic philosophy, the state of a soul that knows no bounds or measure in its desires, leading to unhappiness.
- Theological sense: Idolatry — In the New Testament, insatiability as a grave sin equivalent to worshipping other gods (Col. 3:5).
- Unrestrained craving — Metaphorically, for any kind of desire that cannot be fully satisfied.
Word Family
πλῆ- / πλησ- / πλε- (root of the verb πίμπλημι, meaning "to fill, to satisfy")
The root πλησ- / πλε- forms the basis of a significant family of words in Ancient Greek, all revolving around the concept of fullness, satiety, and quantity. From the original verb πίμπλημι, meaning "to fill," nouns and adjectives are derived that describe the state of being full or a multitude. The word ἀπληστία, with the addition of the privative ἀ-, represents the negative aspect of this root, denoting a lack of satiety and an unappeasable desire. Each member of the family illuminates a different facet of the fundamental concept of fullness.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of insatiability, as a lack of measure and unappeasable desire, traverses Greek thought from classical antiquity to Christian literature, continually acquiring new dimensions.
In Ancient Texts
Three significant passages that highlight the importance of ἀπληστία in ancient literature:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΑΠΛΗΣΤΙΑ is 630, from the sum of its letter values:
630 decomposes into 600 (hundreds) + 30 (tens) + 0 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΑΠΛΗΣΤΙΑ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 630 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 9 | 6+3+0=9 — The Ennead, the number of completion and divine order, which insatiability disrupts. |
| Letter Count | 8 | 8 letters — The Octad, the number of balance and cosmic order, which is lost in insatiability. |
| Cumulative | 0/30/600 | Units 0 · Tens 30 · Hundreds 600 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | A-P-L-E-S-T-I-A | Aei Pleonazousa Lype E Skoteine Timoria Ischyei Aei (Always Increasing Sorrow Or Dark Punishment Always Prevails) (interpretive) |
| Grammatical Groups | 4V · 0A · 2S | 4 vowels (Alpha, Eta, Iota, Alpha), 0 aspirated consonants, 2 stops (Pi, Tau). |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Moon ☽ / Libra ♎ | 630 mod 7 = 0 · 630 mod 12 = 6 |
Isopsephic Words (630)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon with the same lexarithmos (630) as ἀπληστία, but from different roots:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 88 words with lexarithmos 630. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 9th ed., 1940.
- Plato — Republic, Book IX, 586b.
- Aristotle — Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, 1119a.
- Apostle Paul — Epistle to the Colossians, 3:5.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., University of Chicago Press, 2000.