ΣΤΕΡΗΣΙΣ
Steresis (στέρησις), a foundational concept in ancient Greek philosophy, describes the absence or lack of something that ought naturally to be present or possessed. Particularly in Aristotle, it constitutes one of the three principles of change, representing the "negative" aspect of generation, where something ceases to be what it was. Its lexarithmos (1023) suggests a connection to completeness and perfection, perhaps as a counterpoint to the very notion of lack.
Definition
According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, στέρησις (ἡ) primarily means "deprivation, taking away, loss, want." This term, while simple in its initial sense, acquired profound philosophical content, especially in Aristotle.
In Aristotle's philosophy, *steresis* is one of the three principles of change (along with matter and form). It is not merely absence, but the absence of a specific form or quality from a substratum that is capable of possessing it. For example, a statue is not "deprived" of voice, because it is not in its nature to have a voice. In contrast, a person who cannot see is "deprived" of sight, because it is in their nature to see. *Steresis* is the "non-being" from which generation proceeds, but not absolute non-being. It is the non-being of the form in the substratum.
The concept extends to ethical notions, where the privation of a virtue (e.g., privation of justice) leads to vice. *Steresis* itself is not inherently bad, but rather the state preceding the acquisition of a form or the state resulting from its loss.
Etymology
Cognate words include: *stereos* (solid, firm, but also deprived), *sternon* (breast, chest, perhaps from the sense of a "solid" part of the body), *stereoo* (to make firm, establish), *stereoma* (firmament, sky), *steretikos* (deprivative), *astergos* (without love, harsh).
Main Meanings
- Removal, Stripping — The act of taking something away from someone or something.
- Loss, Damage — The state of losing something previously possessed.
- Lack, Absence — The condition of something not being present when it ought to be.
- Philosophical Principle (Aristotle) — One of the three principles of change, the absence of a form in a substratum capable of receiving it.
- Moral Deficiency — The absence of a virtue or quality necessary for ethical completeness.
- Affliction, Illness — The lack of a normal bodily function or state.
- Penalty, Punishment — The deprivation of rights or goods as a consequence of actions.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of *steresis*, though simple in everyday language, developed into a central philosophical tool, especially by Aristotle, for understanding change and existence.
In Ancient Texts
*Steresis*, as a fundamental principle of change, is clearly explained by Aristotle, who assigns it a central role in understanding the world.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΣΤΕΡΗΣΙΣ is 818, from the sum of its letter values:
818 decomposes into 800 (hundreds) + 10 (tens) + 8 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΣΤΕΡΗΣΙΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 818 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 8 | 1+0+2+3 = 6 — The Hexad, a number of creation and harmony, perhaps indicating the completeness that stands in opposition to the concept of privation, or the balance that is disturbed by it. |
| Letter Count | 8 | 8 letters — The Octad, a number of regeneration, balance, and infinity, perhaps suggesting the cyclical nature of change, where privation leads to new form. |
| Cumulative | 8/10/800 | Units 8 · Tens 10 · Hundreds 800 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | S-T-E-R-E-S-I-S | Sapientia Tollit Errorem Recte Habens Scientiam In Statu (Wisdom Removes Error Rightly Having Knowledge In State) - (An interpretive approach connecting lack with the pursuit of virtue and completion). |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 5C · 0A | Three vowels (E, H, I) and five consonants (S, T, R, S, S), indicating a balance between the spiritual and material dimensions of the word. |
| Palindromes | Yes (numeric) | Number reads same reversed |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Saturn ♄ / Gemini ♊ | 818 mod 7 = 6 · 818 mod 12 = 2 |
Isopsephic Words (818)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (1023) that further illuminate the concept of *steresis*:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 58 words with lexarithmos 818. 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.
- Aristotle — Physics. Translated by R. P. Hardie and R. K. Gaye. In *The Basic Works of Aristotle*, edited by Richard McKeon. New York: Random House, 1941.
- Aristotle — Metaphysics. Translated by W. D. Ross. In *The Basic Works of Aristotle*, edited by Richard McKeon. New York: Random House, 1941.
- Plotinus — The Enneads. Translated by Stephen MacKenna. London: Faber and Faber, 1956.
- Kahn, Charles H. — Aristotle and the Principles of Change. In F. E. Peters, Greek Philosophical Terms: A Historical Lexicon. New York: New York University Press, 1967.
- Ross, W. D. — Aristotle's Physics: A Revised Text with Introduction and Commentary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1936.