arche
arche — 名詞
1. the most basic principle or foundation that knowledge, existence, or a system of
本原
萬物起始的根本原則
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.
Hana 用黃色粉筆在黑板上寫下『arche』，然後問全班是甚麼啟動了一切。
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.
Ravindra 在餐巾紙上畫了一棵樹，告訴同伴樹根就是本原。
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.
Ingrid 在論文中把『arche』畫了三次底線，並在旁邊寫道：整個論證都建立在這個之上。
Thales scooped water from the Aegean Sea and told his pupils: this, not a god, is the arche.
泰勒斯從愛琴海捧起一把水，對學生說：這個，不是神，就是本原。
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
原質
構成宇宙的原始物質
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.
João 指向大海、天空和蠟燭，問朋友哪一個才是原質。
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.
Mayumi 的教授畫了一張圖表，列出思想家及其各自選擇的原質。
Chidi slammed his textbook shut — five thinkers, five different archai, and not one of them agreed.
Chidi 啪地合上課本——五位思想家，五種不同的原質，卻沒有一個達成共識。
Kofi held up a glass of water and said, 'Thales called this the arche.'
Kofi 舉起一杯水說：『泰勒斯稱這個為原質。』
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
動因
驅動萬物發生的原始力量
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.
Amelia 在研討桌上一字排開骨牌，輕敲第一張，說那就是動因。
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.
Defne 舉起一根火柴，告訴全班：每一場大火都需要一個動因。
Aristotle drew an arrow and a bow on papyrus, then wrote beside the bow: this is the arche.
亞里斯多德在莎草紙上畫了一支箭和一張弓，然後在弓旁邊寫道：這就是動因。
Maeve struck a match against the stone wall and said, 'That tiny flare is the arche.'
Maeve 在石牆上劃了一根火柴，說：『那小小的火光就是動因。』
- 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.