arche
arche — noun
1. the most basic principle or foundation that knowledge, existence, or a system of
the most basic principle or foundation that knowledge, existence, or a system of thought rests upon — a first truth rather than an active force
Hana wrote 'arche' across the blackboard in yellow chalk and asked her class what started everything.
classroom pattern: 'arche' introduced as the term for the first cause
Ravindra drew a tree on a napkin and told his partner the roots were the arche.
visual metaphor: arche as the root structure supporting everything above it
Ingrid underlined 'arche' three times in her essay and wrote beside it: the whole argument rests on this.
Thales scooped water from the Aegean Sea and told his pupils: this, not a god, is the arche.
文法句型
the arche of + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (PRIMAL SUBSTANCE), which names a concrete material, and sense 3 (DRIVING CAUSE), which names a force that initiates movement or change.
常見錯誤
2. an original substance or fundamental element that early thinkers believed everyt
an original substance or fundamental element that early thinkers believed everything in the universe was made from
João pointed to sea, sky, and a candle and asked his friend which was the arche.
historical context: pre-Socratic debate over which element qualifies as the arche
Mayumi's professor drew a chart of thinkers and the arche each one chose.
Chidi slammed his textbook shut — five thinkers, five different archai, and not one of them agreed.
Kofi held up a glass of water and said, 'Thales called this the arche.'
文法句型
the arche + of + noun
identify + noun + as the arche
用法筆記
Used mainly in accounts of early Greek cosmology. Unlike sense 1 (FIRST PRINCIPLE), this sense refers to a physical substance rather than an abstract concept.
常見錯誤
3. a cause or force that puts events into motion, driving things to begin or change
a cause or force that puts events into motion, driving things to begin or change
Amelia lined up dominoes on the seminar table, tapped the first one, and called it the arche.
philosophical usage: arche as the first cause that triggers a causal chain
Defne held up a match and told the class: every great fire needs an arche.
Aristotle drew an arrow and a bow on papyrus, then wrote beside the bow: this is the arche.
Maeve struck a match against the stone wall and said, 'That tiny flare is the arche.'
- cause
more general: anything that makes something happen; arche is specifically the originating cause in a philosophical system
- prime mover
theological term for the first cause; arche is the broader philosophical equivalent used in Greek thought
- driving force
common in everyday language; arche is restricted to formal philosophical contexts
文法句型
the arche + behind + noun
act as + an arche
用法筆記
Refers to a principle that initiates movement or change, especially in Aristotelian philosophy. Contrast with sense 1, where the arche is a static first principle rather than an active cause.