Editing Philomath

{{short description|Lover of learning}}
{{Other uses}}
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A '''philomath''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɪ|l|ə|m|æ|θ}}){{refn|{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Philomath |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507072519/https://www.lexico.com/definition/philomath |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-05-07 |title=Philomath |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}} }} is a lover of learning and studying.

The term is from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{Transliteration|grc|philos}} ({{lang|grc|φίλος}}; "beloved", "loving", as in [[philosophy]] or [[philanthropy]]) and {{Transliteration|grc|manthanein}}, {{Transliteration|grc|math-}} ({{lang|grc|μανθάνειν}}, {{lang|grc|μαθ-}}; "to learn", as in [[polymath]]).

Philomathy is similar to, but distinguished from, philosophy in that {{Transliteration|grc|-soph}}, 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 {{transliteration|grc|mathema}} is likely a result of the rapid categorization during the time of [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]] of their {{transliteration|grc|mathemata}} in terms of [[education]]: [[arithmetic]], [[geometry]], [[astronomy]], and [[Music theory|music]] (the [[quadrivium]]), which the Greeks found to create a "natural grouping" of mathematical (in the modern usage; "{{lang|la|doctrina mathematica}}" in the ancient usage) precepts.

In a philosophical dialogue, [[James VI and I|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>{{cite book|last1=King James|title=[[Daemonologie]]|edition=critical|language=en|year=2016|orig-year=1597|isbn=1-5329-6891-4}}</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

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wiktionary|philomath}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/philomath|title=philomath|website=Dictionary.com}}

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[[Category:Words]]