Dictionary

sophron en · ADJ

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σώφρων (sṓphrōn, “sane, moderate, prudent”) (from σῶς (sôs, “safe, sound, whole”) + φρήν (phrḗn, “mind”)).

Meanings

1. (in Ancient Greek philosophy) Of a sound and well-balanced mind; moderate, prudent, sensible, reasonable.
   • Even if, the argument notwithstanding, quiet deeds should somehow emerge as more beautiful and not fewer in number “in walking and speaking or anywhere else,” even given this, the quiet life would be no more sophron than the non-quiet. 2015, David Lawrence Levine, Profound Ignorance: Plato's Charmides and the Saving of Wisdom:
   • As a young gentleman, Charmides was expected to be sophron, self- restrained in his moral behavior, and we learn in the prologue that he so well fulfills this expectation that he is regarded as the most moderate [sophronestatos, 157d6) of the young men of his generation. 1998, Walter T. Schmid, Plato's Charmides and the Socratic Ideal of Rationality, page 11:

Forms

Relateds

Sophrosyne · sophrosyne