Philomath

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Philosophy sidebar A philomath (Template:IPAc-en)Template:Refn is a lover of learning and studying.

The term is from Greek Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; "beloved", "loving", as in philosophy or philanthropy) and Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; "to learn", as in polymath).

Philomathy is similar to, but distinguished from, philosophy in that Template:Transliteration, the latter suffix, specifies "wisdom" or "knowledge", rather than the process of acquisition thereof. Philomath is not synonymous with polymath, as a polymath is someone who possesses great and detailed knowledge and facts from a variety of disciplines, while a philomath is someone who greatly enjoys learning and studying.

Overview

The shift in meaning for Template:Transliteration is likely a result of the rapid categorization during the time of Plato and Aristotle of their Template:Transliteration in terms of education: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the quadrivium), which the Greeks found to create a "natural grouping" of mathematical (in the modern usage; "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" in the ancient usage) precepts.

In a philosophical dialogue, King James penned the character Philomathes to debate on arguments of whether the ancient religious concepts of witchcraft should be punished in a politically fueled Christian society. The arguments King James poses through the character Epistemon are based on concepts of theological reasoning regarding society's belief, as his opponent, Philomathes, takes a philosophical stance on society's legal aspects but seeks to obtain the knowledge of Epistemon. This philosophical approach signified a philomath seeking to obtain greater knowledge through epistemology. The dialogue was used by King James to educate society on various concepts including the history and etymology of the subjects debated.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• Benjamin Franklin, who used this pen name
• Philomath, Oregon
• Philomathean Literary Society (Erskine College)
• Philomathean Society, a literary society at the University of Pennsylvania
• Philomathean Society (New York University)
• Philomaths, Polish secret student organization that existed, 1817–1823, at the Imperial University of Vilnius

External links

• {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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