ΕΠΙΚΡΙΣΙΣ
Epikrisis, as the act of critical evaluation and discernment, stands as a fundamental concept in ancient Greek thought, particularly within the realms of rhetoric, philosophy, and aesthetics. Its lexarithmos (635) suggests a connection to balance and comprehensive judgment.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ἐπίκρισις primarily signifies "a judging upon, decision, determination, especially of a critical kind, criticism, review, censorship." The word is a compound of the preposition "ἐπί" (upon, over, in addition) and the noun "κρίσις" (judgment, decision, separation). The addition of "ἐπί" implies a judgment applied or imposed upon something, an external assessment or review.
In classical Greek literature, ἐπίκρισις is employed to describe the act of detailed examination and evaluation, whether it pertains to a work of art, a rhetorical argument, or a legal case. It is not merely a decision, but a judgment that arises from careful scrutiny of the evidence. In Aristotle, the concept of judgment (κρίσις) is central to understanding virtue and right action, and ἐπίκρισις extends this to a specific application of critical assessment.
Specifically, in the field of aesthetics, ἐπίκρισις refers to the critical analysis and evaluation of poetic, dramatic, or other artistic works. Ancient critics, such as the Alexandrian philologists, applied ἐπίκρισις to discern the authenticity, quality, and artistic merit of texts, thereby shaping the tradition of literary criticism.
Etymology
From the same root krin- derive many significant words in the Greek language. Cognate words include the verb κρίνω ("to separate, distinguish, choose, decide, judge"), the noun κρίσις ("separation, distinction, decision, judgment"), the adjective κριτικός ("able to judge, critical, pertaining to judgment"), as well as compounds like διάκρισις ("discernment, distinction") and ἀπόκρισις ("answer, separation"). This word family underscores the central importance of the intellectual process of discernment and evaluation in ancient Greek thought.
Main Meanings
- Critical evaluation, review — The act of detailed examination and assessment of a subject, work, or person.
- Literary or artistic criticism — The systematic analysis and evaluation of poetic, dramatic, or other artistic works, as practiced by ancient philologists.
- Decision, determination — A definitive judgment or finding resulting from examination, often in a legal or administrative context.
- Censorship — The official examination and approval or rejection of texts or works, implying the imposition of criteria.
- Discernment, distinction — The ability or act of distinguishing elements, separating one from another.
- Theological judgment — The concept of divine judgment or evaluation of human actions, as found in religious texts.
Word Family
krin- (root of the verb krinō, meaning "to separate, to judge")
The root krin- is fundamental in Ancient Greek, expressing the concept of separation, distinction, choice, and by extension, judgment and decision. From this root, a rich family of words developed, covering a wide range of meanings, from legal judgment and philosophical discernment to aesthetic evaluation. The presence of prefixes such as "epi-", "dia-", "apo-" modifies and specializes the basic meaning of judgment, imparting direction, intensity, or outcome. The root krin- belongs to the oldest stratum of the Greek language and is central to the human capacity for rational thought and evaluation.
Philosophical Journey
Epikrisis, as both a concept and a practice, spans the history of Greek thought, evolving from an initial meaning of simple decision to a specialized term for critical analysis.
In Ancient Texts
The concept of ἐπίκρισις, though not always by this exact word, permeates texts concerning evaluation and judgment. Here are two characteristic examples from classical literature.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΕΠΙΚΡΙΣΙΣ is 635, from the sum of its letter values:
635 decomposes into 600 (hundreds) + 30 (tens) + 5 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΕΠΙΚΡΙΣΙΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 635 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 5 | 6+3+5 = 14 → 1+4 = 5. The Pentad, a number of balance, harmony, and human judgment, as humans possess five senses to judge the world. |
| Letter Count | 9 | 9 letters (E-P-I-K-R-I-S-I-S). The Ennead, a number of completion, perfection, and spiritual achievement, signifying a comprehensive and profound judgment. |
| Cumulative | 5/30/600 | Units 5 · Tens 30 · Hundreds 600 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | E-P-I-K-R-I-S-I-S | Epignosis Pragmaton Ischyron, Krisis Rematon Hieron, Sophia Hikani Soterias. (An interpretative rendering connecting judgment with strong knowledge, sacred pronouncements, and sufficient wisdom for salvation). |
| Grammatical Groups | 4V · 3S · 2M | 4 vowels (E, I, I, I), 3 semivowels (R, S, S), 2 mutes (P, K). The harmonious distribution of vowels and consonants suggests the rhetorical balance and clarity required in criticism. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Jupiter ♃ / Pisces ♓ | 635 mod 7 = 5 · 635 mod 12 = 11 |
Isopsephic Words (635)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon with the same lexarithmos (635) but different roots, highlighting the unexpected numerical coincidences of the Greek language.
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 65 words with lexarithmos 635. 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, 9th ed. with revised supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996.
- Plato — Republic.
- Aristotle — Politics.
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus — On Lysias' Style.
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus — On the Arrangement of Words.
- Plutarch — On the Avoidance of Debt.
- 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. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.