Perceptions & Pictures

Greeks have a word

To err is human wrote Alexander McCall Smith several years ago.  He was thinking New Year at the time, and although we are at present (September 2025) a way off New Year and all that jazz, new starts do not need to be restricted to new calendar years alone.

Mr McCall Smith makes the observation, Sometimes a Greek word says it all then goes on to give one of his personal favourites, akrasia , or weakness of will.  The writer observes, Don’t feel to bad about it, it’s only that fancy-sounding akrasia … and there’s always next year.

This topic should not be left there, for the Greeks had many words. Enkrateia is another, and could be described as an anti-dote to akrasia.  This one may be translated as self-control.  Socrates used this word in his Republic, to describe an ordering and control of certain pleasures and desires.  Aristotle  too used this term, adding his perspective, it is a matter of wonder when a man yields to and cannot contend against those pleasures … which the common herd are able to resist.

For anyone to beat themselves up (or anyone else – metaphorically) over their akrasia may be neither helpful nor productive to themselves or those around.  But neither is it helpful to allow anyone to shrug off such weakness as Oh well, to err is human (to which someone once added, but isn’t it divine!) For there is that other side to this currency, Enkrateia.

To yield to the forbidden slice of cake that militates against the healthy diet, the desired slim figure, and that zest for life these will surely bring, is not such a big deal.  Go for a three mile walk if you feel really bad about having given in to akrasia and this will burn off most of your self-indulgence.  Problem solved! However, there are other, wider and more serious issues requiring self-control.

Mr McCall Smith correctly points out  Ideally, we should try to cultivate strength of will in the face of temptation, but it’s never easy.

He also makes mention of higher and lower aspirations.  Balancing such aspirations against achievement is not beyond reach of us, the common herd. There are inner resources, perhaps slack through non-use, but latent and present none the less.

Whilst seeking to strengthen those underlying resources, it is worth remembering too that each new day can bring a new start.  We do not have to wait for the next New Year for another round of resolutions.

Bibliography: Francis Evans Words from the Word