ΟΝ
The concept of Being (ὄν), central to philosophy from the Presocratics to Neoplatonism, refers to that which exists, existence itself, and essence. It is not merely a word, but the foundation of all metaphysical thought, distinguishing the real from the apparent, the unchangeable from the becoming. Its lexarithmos (120) symbolizes completeness and cosmic order, underscoring the universality of the concept.
Definition
According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ὄν (the neuter participle of ὤν, οὖσα, ὄν from the verb εἰμί) signifies "that which exists, the existent, the real." As a substantivized participle, ὄν evolved into one of the most fundamental terms in Greek philosophy, referring to existence, essence, and reality.
Its philosophical significance begins with Parmenides, who defined Being as eternal, ungenerated, imperishable, unchangeable, and unitary, in stark contrast to non-being and becoming. For Plato, ὄν is identified with the eternal and immutable Forms (Ideas), which constitute true reality, while sensible things are mere shadows or imitations of Being.
Aristotle, while disagreeing with the Platonic separation, analyzes ὄν "in many ways" (πολλαχῶς), as substance, quality, quantity, relation, place, time, position, state, action, and passion. For the Stagirite, the primary meaning of being is substance (οὐσία), which is the subject of predicates and existence in itself. In Neoplatonism, ὄν emanates from the supra-essential "One," while in Christian theology, God is recognized as the absolute Being, the source of all existence.
Etymology
Cognate words include the verb εἰμί (to be), the noun οὐσία (essence, being, property), the adverb ἔστιν (it is, there is), as well as a multitude of compounds such as τὸ ὄντως ὄν (that which truly is). In other Indo-European languages, cognate forms include Latin *esse* (to be), English *is*, German *ist*, and Sanskrit *asti*.
Main Meanings
- That which exists, the existent — The basic meaning, referring to anything that has being, in contrast to the non-existent or imaginary.
- Essence, nature, reality — That which makes something what it is, its inherent structure and identity.
- The true, the unchangeable — In Parmenidean philosophy, Being as the sole true and immutable reality.
- The Ideal, the Form — In Platonic philosophy, Being as the eternal and perfect Form (Idea), the archetype of sensible things.
- Being as a predicate — In Aristotelian logic, Being as that which can be predicated of a subject (e.g., "man is mortal").
- Being as existence — The pure act of existing, independent of essence or characteristics.
- Being qua being — The metaphysical inquiry into being in its universality, as the subject matter of first philosophy.
- The Divine Being — In theology and Neoplatonism, Being as the supreme, divine principle, the source of all existence.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of ὄν constitutes the cornerstone of Western philosophy, with its interpretation evolving dramatically over centuries, shaping metaphysical and ontological theories.
In Ancient Texts
Three of the most iconic passages that shaped the understanding of Being in ancient Greek philosophy.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΟΝ is 120, from the sum of its letter values:
120 decomposes into 100 (hundreds) + 20 (tens) + 0 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΟΝ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 120 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 3 | 1+2+0 = 3 — Triad, symbol of completeness, perfection, and divine order. It reflects the threefold distinction of being (potentiality, actuality, substance) or the triad of principles (One, Intellect, Soul) in Neoplatonism. |
| Letter Count | 2 | 2 letters — Dyad, the initial distinction between being and non-being, or the dual nature of existence (e.g., substance and accidents). |
| Cumulative | 0/20/100 | Units 0 · Tens 20 · Hundreds 100 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | O-N | Ousia Noesis (Essence as the object of intellection), Ouranos Nous (The celestial intellect as the source of being). |
| Grammatical Groups | 1V · 1S · 0M | 1 vowel (o), 1 semivowel (n), 0 mutes. The simplicity of its structure reflects the fundamental and pure nature of the concept of being. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Mercury ☿ / Aries ♈ | 120 mod 7 = 1 · 120 mod 12 = 0 |
Isopsephic Words (120)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (120) that illuminate aspects of the concept of being:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 24 words with lexarithmos 120. 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, 1940.
- Diels, H., Kranz, W. — Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1951-1952.
- Plato — Sophist. Translated by H. N. Fowler. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press.
- Aristotle — Metaphysics. Translated by H. Tredennick. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press.
- Kirk, G. S., Raven, J. E., Schofield, M. — The Presocratic Philosophers: A Critical History with a Selection of Texts. Cambridge University Press, 1983.
- Ross, W. D. — Aristotle's Metaphysics: A Revised Text with Introduction and Commentary. Oxford University Press, 1924.
- Guthrie, W. K. C. — A History of Greek Philosophy. Vol. IV: Plato: The Man and his Dialogues, Earlier Period. Cambridge University Press, 1975.
- Plotinus — The Enneads. Translated by Stephen MacKenna. Penguin Classics, 1991.