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Publications of Markhinin Vasiliy
Philosophical Thought, 2017-5
Markhinin V. - The origin of the word "philosophy" as a problem:to discussion of W. Burkert's concept. Part I pp. 68-95

DOI:
10.7256/2409-8728.2017.5.22038

Abstract: This article considers the problem of origin of the word φιλοσοφία as it was formulated in the key article by Walter Burkert "Plato or Pythagoras? Origins of the Word ‘Philosophy'" ("Platon oder Pythagoras? Zum Ursprung des Wortes 'Philosophie'") (1960). It is noted that the concept created by Walter Burkert has had a large influence on the historiography of this issue and still remains topical. Walter Burkert believes that, contrary to the commonly shared opinion (based on reports of ancient authors, primarily Heraclides), it was not Pythagoras, but Plato who invented the word φιλοσοφία in its proper sense. This sense implies that a philosopher is not a man of wisdom (as only God is wise), but someone who “loves wisdom” selflessly not expecting honors or fame, someone who is devoted to the pursuit of truth about the world. The proposed paper reviews W. Burkert’s conception from the position of historical and genetic approach and the principle of philosophics (the term proposed by the author), which assumes that the most adequate means of studying the essence of philosophy is the scientific explication of its ancient archetype. The sources studied by Walter Burkert to address this problem are analyzed and a new critical look is taken at his linguistic and sociocultural hypotheses. It is demonstrated that, contrary to Burkert’s opinion, it is quite possible that the word φιλοσοφία was invented by any of the Pre-Socratic philosophers such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus and/or someone else. As reliable doxographical sources show, the style of life and thought implied by the word φιλοσοφία (though the word itself had not yet been invented) was demonstrated already by Thales whom the classical tradition originating from Antiquity calls (quite rightfully, as it seems) the first philosopher. The word φιλοσοφία was invented as a result of emerging understanding of this cognitive mode, and most likely it was first done by Pythagoras. The author of this article believes that the history of Pre-Platonic thought on the world order should be treated as the process of genesis of philosophy. It is concluded that Plato’s achievement was not the invention of the word φιλοσοφία, but assimilating this word from the existing tradition (mainly through Socrates) and developing its meaning into a doctrine of philosophy, thus completing the process of establishment of this way of living and thought.
Philosophical Thought, 2017-4
Markhinin V. - The origin of the word "philosophy" as a problem: to discussion of the concept of W. Burkert. Part II pp. 37-54

DOI:
10.7256/2409-8728.2017.4.22008

Abstract: This article considers the problem of origin of the word φιλοσοφία as it was formulated in the key article by Walter Burkert "Plato or Pythagoras? Origins of the Word ‘Philosophy'" ("Platon oder Pythagoras? Zum Ursprung des Wortes 'Philosophie'") (1960). It is noted that the concept created by Walter Burkert has had a large influence on the historiography of this issue and still remains topical. Walter Burkert believes that, contrary to the commonly shared opinion (based on reports of ancient authors, primarily Heraclides), it was not Pythagoras, but Plato who invented the word φιλοσοφία in its proper sense. This sense implies that a philosopher is not a man of wisdom (as only God is wise), but someone who “loves wisdom” selflessly not expecting honors or fame, someone who is devoted to the pursuit of truth about the world. The proposed paper reviews W. Burkert’s conception from the position of historical and genetic approach and the principle of philosophics (the term proposed by the author), which assumes that the most adequate means of studying the essence of philosophy is the scientific explication of its ancient archetype. The sources studied by Walter Burkert to address this problem are analyzed and a new critical look is taken at his linguistic and sociocultural hypotheses. It is demonstrated that, contrary to Burkert’s opinion, it is quite possible that the word φιλοσοφία was invented by any of the Pre-Socratic philosophers such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus and/or someone else. As reliable doxographical sources show, the style of life and thought implied by the word φιλοσοφία (though the word itself had not yet been invented) was demonstrated already by Thales whom the classical tradition originating from Antiquity calls (quite rightfully, as it seems) the first philosopher. The word φιλοσοφία was invented as a result of emerging understanding of this cognitive mode, and most likely it was first done by Pythagoras. The author of this article believes that the history of Pre-Platonic thought on the world order should be treated as the process of genesis of philosophy. It is concluded that Plato’s achievement was not the invention of the word φιλοσοφία, but assimilating this word from the existing tradition (mainly through Socrates) and developing its meaning into a doctrine of philosophy, thus completing the process of establishment of this way of living and thought.Keywords: φιλοσοφία, concept of Walter Burkert, Heraclides, Plato, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Thales, sophists, genesis of philosophy, meanings, etymology.
Philosophical Thought, 2017-3
Markhinin V. - Walter Burkert. Plato or Pythagoras? On the origins of the word "philosophy" (Translated from the German by Vasily V. Markhinin.Translation abridged notes) pp. 36-51

DOI:
10.7256/2409-8728.2017.3.22028

Abstract: Walter Burkert (1931 - 2015) - was an outstanding German classicist with a worldwide reputation. His studies are notable for their broad cultural outlook, deep erudition, and the utilization of an extensive range of sources on ancient history and culture; including his strong knowledge of the intricacies of ancient Greek and Latin languages. For the development of national antiquity studies, it is important that the largest possible number of interested Russian readers have the opportunity to become acquainted with the works of such an outstanding expert. The translation of his works, in this case from the German, is intended to serve this goal. The article Plato or Pythagoras? On the Origins of the Word Philosophy" is still influential when it comes to academic literature on this issue, and, of course, will not lose its value in the foreseeable future. The subject of the study, referred to in the title - is the origins of the Greek word "philosophy" - and it reveals the entire array of available resources by using data on the etymology of typologically close (according to the author) ancient Greek words. The process of origin of the word "philosophy" is considered within the context of socio-cultural history of the classical period of Greek antiquity. His arsenal of research methods includes the historical-comparative, historical and genetic analysis, the typology method, the hermeneutic approach, and methods of classical philology. For the first time, this article substantiates the conclusion that the word "philosophy", with its well-known meaning, which stands in opposition to "love of wisdom" and strictly speaking "wisdom" as well as "lover of wisdom" and "sage", arose only as a result of Plato's intellectual creativity. The author pursues a thought that even if Pythagoras or another thinker among the Presocratics had used the word "philosophy" (philosopher), it was not in the sense of the aforementioned opposition, but rather in the sense in which the word "philosophy" appears as a synonym for the word "wisdom". This interpretation of origin and meaning of the word "philosophy" creates a new perspective of the history of ancient philosophy, which differs from the one adopted by the majority of experts, and thus, results in the need for its deeper comprehension.
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