Talk:Paideia

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 22 September 2021 and 10 December 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): ExSilvissima. Peer reviewers: Sappho Cornelia Catula, Greekazoid.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 06:01, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

The word: what it refers to & its derivatives
I moved this to just "Paideia" because I don't think there's anything like a non-Greek Paideia, right? Stan 22:35, 4 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Interesting point. I agree. But then the word can be used such as the Roman Paideia, or the Paideia of any culture. I guess we can say Paideia: Roman etc. The word can grow.

Paideia is also the word in "Wikipedia". "-pedia" is the same word. "Encyclopaedia" "-paedia" is the same word along with Pedogogy or paedogogy with "Ped-" the same word. WHEELER 14:16, 5 Apr 2004 (UTC)


 * For other cultures I think we would tend to use other terms; cultural education among the Thais or the Sumatrans is likely quite different in character. Stan 16:08, 5 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * Okay.WHEELER 18:31, 5 Apr 2004 (UTC)

There is no understanding of Greek culture and its terms, and its society without understanding Paideia. I am having many problems in the Political section because no one understands ancient Greek culture. Most political terms were derived from the Greeks. Yet much of the definitions don't match anything the Greeks said or thought. Especially on what is a Republic. (See, Talk:Republic and Greek Philosophies on Republic). WHEELER 19:14, 8 Apr 2004 (UTC)

This page on Paideia will constantly grow with a constant spiralling of offshoots. This site is by no means finished and many more related articles from others are soon to follow. We definately need more classiscists on the program.WHEELER 19:28, 8 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Is it a good idea to list "wikipedia" in the words which contain paideia... self-references are frowned upon I thought. Also, is there any particular reason for using the "encyclopaedia" spelling rather than "encyclopedia"? fabiform | talk 14:25, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I am a traditionalist and I grew up with the Encyclopaedia Britannica. I always loved it. You may change it if you want. WHEELER 15:50, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Kim Bruning has been on board and hasn't said anything about the use of the word 'Wikipedia'. It is a good way for wikipedians to know a little of the etymology of their word. WHEELER 16:03, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Um, I simply had no comment to make on the topic, I'm not an expert here :-) . Fabiform: could you dig up the policy which says self references are specifically bad? We can edit the article based on that policy then. Kim Bruning 18:03, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * See Avoid self-references. :-) This has usually been extended to strongly dissuade articles from using Wikipedia in examples -- I'd say it likely applies here.  Noting its connection to encyclopedia is perfectly legitimate, and the connection that is thereby made to Wikipedia should be obvious.  We can assume our readers have the ability to make that connection, anyway, I think. Jwrosenzweig 18:14, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * I see. Applied. Kim Bruning 18:29, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I disagree with the article's reference to "pedagogy" or "pedagogue" -- the word's origins, as far as linguists can tell, have nothing to do with "Paideia". The word derives from "pais" or "ped" meaning "child" and "agogos" meaning "leader" or "guide", as I recall. I can look up references if needed. Jwrosenzweig 16:14, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * An alternative origin is that the "paidagogos" was the term for the slave who led the children to school -- "pais" also having the meaning of "slave". Jwrosenzweig 16:16, 9 Apr 2004 (UTC)

That is exaclty right. Paidia in modern Greek means child. Children and Slaves have the same root basis. Observe.

"Who ever receives a child", The Greek reads "toiouton paidon" This at Mark 9:37. Paidia is Child and Children.

In the Septuagint at Exodus 20:17 where it says, Thou shalt not covet thy manservant nor maid servant the Greek reads "oute Paida" and "oute Paidiskin".

Paidia is the root of all.

Mr. Jwrosenweig you quote from this encyclopaedia and I noticed that this article was messed up; this whole place is all messed up according to Greek words and definitions. From Top to Bottom.WHEELER 14:37, 10 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * I am confused by the above, WHEELER. You had originally asserted that Paideia was the root for pedagogy.  Are you altering that assertion?  I agree with you that "paid" means child in Greek.....so it makes sense that pedagogy and paideia share that as a root.  But one is not the root of the other, as you had originally stated -- at least, I contend that paideia is not a root of pedagogy, and I don't see anything above that disputes this, other than your assertion that "paidia" is the root of all.  Are you suggesting that the word for education "paideia" antedates the word for child "paid"?  Surely it would be far more logical that child is an earlier word that lends itself to education?  Why should we assume that the word for slave is also descended from the word for education?  I would assume that first there was a word for child, which was used to refer to slaves (who had no more rights than children in the time, perhaps?).....later, as children were led out into the world by slaves, we got the notion of a "paidagogue" who leads them.....and later still, Plato conceives of education as a kind of being led out (out of the cave, specifically) and paideia results.  This seems logical to me.  I cannot conceive of a reason for "paideia" initiating the chain of events.


 * Furthermore, I do not understand this quote of yours at all: "Mr. Jwrosenweig you quote from this encyclopaedia and I noticed that this article was messed up; this whole place is all messed up according to Greek words and definitions. From Top to Bottom."  What encyclopedia are you referring to?  I didn't quote any encyclopedia....I was referring to a dictionary when I made the above comments, but I didn't say which one.  Why should you assume that the encyclopedia you were looking at was the one I referred to?  I feel as though you are desperately trying to find a reason to discredit me, when all I'm doing is pointing out a correction that I can't see any reason for you to object to.  You made an entirely understandable error (we all make them), and I've pointed it out -- why not cheerfully admit it and move on?  You have a good article here that I'm trying to aid you in improving.  Please accept that. Jwrosenzweig 17:51, 12 Apr 2004 (UTC)


 * On wikipedia's own site for pedogogy is wrong in the Greek. I thought you looked it up on this website becuase you used the same meaning. There is much confusion around. The word 'paideia' is in Loeb's Politics of Aristotle on page 274.  Paideia comes from the word child.  No, I am not changing words or definition.  The English aliteration of the Greek word is wrong.  Encyclopaedia Britannica, which I grew up on, is of a psuedo-Greek aliteration.  "paedia" it is not.  Mr. Jaeger puts it in the right aliteration of Paideia.  I believe the English did not transliterate well.


 * We do have a Greek on board called Anglephorus. Maybe He can help.WHEELER 18:02, 12 Apr 2004 (UTC)


 * I have found in Politics, Loeb, pg 645; 1338 5; "paidotriviky" as trainer.WHEELER 18:13, 12 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * WHEELER, please look at any etymological dictionary (American Heritage, Oxford English, etc.) under "pedagogy" for the origins of the word. I think you'll find I am correct. Jwrosenzweig 19:14, 12 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * From the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto It says also this comes from Pais but he says "It is generally assumed."  I will go ahead and change it.  I will have to research the word some more.  It is too bad I am not at a gigantic library with endless funds and expertise. WHEELER 13:28, 13 Apr 2004 (UTC)


 * That's why we're trying to build one eh? ;-) Kim Bruning 13:55, 13 Apr 2004 (UTC)
 * WHEELER, you might look at, , and . I really wish you'd recognize that no one here is a gigantic library -- together we make one.  When people find proof that disqualifies your assertion (as I've done for the etymology of "pedagogy" and as others did concerning Mussolini's remark about the "right"), I wish you would accept their statements.  It is hard to discuss things with you when you insist that you are right until I provide proof, and then you make the general statement "I will have to research this" or "I will have to see the original with my own eyes" -- in a worldwide project, these aren't reasonable requests.  I've demonstrated that I am correct on this one minor issue.  It's not a big deal -- people get confused about etymology all the time.  I know I do.  But it becomes irritating (please try to envision) when a person demands verifiable proof but then refuses to accept it when it arrives.  I'm not trying to show that paideia and pedagogy have nothing to do with each other -- just that one is not the root of the other.  Will you please agree with me so that we can end this tiny argument and go back to working on improving this article into peak condition? I hope you will.  I think we can work profitably together, but only if you allow yourself to trust that the other contributors here generally have good intentions, and are not out to deceive and ensnare one another.  Jwrosenzweig 16:40, 13 Apr 2004 (UTC) My mistake!  I apologize, I thought your remark about needing to research was an attempt to stall me.  I see now your remark about change meant that you were changing the article -- I thank you.  I'm leaving the links un-crossed so you can use them for research, but please ignore my other comments, which were made because I misunderstood you.  I apologize and will try to assume good faith (and read more carefully) in the future.  Thank you for being understanding, Jwrosenzweig 16:42, 13 Apr 2004 (UTC)

From the 'little' Liddell and Scott Ancient Greek Dictionary: "paideia: the rearing or bringing up of a child : teaching, education, discipline, correction. II. youth, childhood. III. handiwork." The root is 'pais', or which declines in the genitive as 'paidos', hence the 'paid-' root, which shows up in latin as 'paed-' and in American english as 'ped-'. 'Pais' means a child, a son or a daughter, a boy, a girl, or, like 'puer' in Latin, a slave or servant. The word does not really mean slave, but rather the slave is was given the title of child, just as waiters are sometimes referred to as 'garçon', or black people referred to as 'boy.' 'Paid-' forms the root of 'paidagogos'. 'Ago' means lead, and so a paidagogos is one who leads a child. From the dictionary: "attending or training boys... the slave who went with a boy from home to school and back again : hence generally, a tutor, teacher, instructor." Paidagogos does not derive it's application to the slave because 'paid' means slave. Some slaves were called paidagogos because of their function within the household. All of these words derive their meaning from pais, or child. I hope that clarifies things a bit for any future editor. I suggest, btw, Perseus (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/lexica.html) for help with greek and latin words. (παιδεραστης -- Jan 21, 2006)

A link to consider
Critique of Paideia. I have no time to evaluate it now. I consider adding it to links. Feel free to do it for me, whoever.

&mdash;6birc, 22:52, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee's study booklet is called "Paideia".
 * Actually, the new one is "Spell It!: Tricks and Tips for Spelling Bee Success"Naruttebayo 20:37, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

Cleanup needed
The topic of Classical Greek education, seen as gumnastike together with mousike, came up on the reference desk today, and I realized there was no decent treatment of such a basic point about the subject. So I've put the cleanup tag here, since the growth of the article hoped for in the discussion above has not materialized. The article suffers from the pronouncement that "paideia is this" and "paideia is that," as if paideia were a brand or slogan (as it is in the list of "Schools with philosophy," which patently has nothing to do with the rest of the article and should probably be incorporated into Classical education, which should probably in turn be renamed Classical education movement, since it has nothing to do with education in Classical antiquity!), rather than a very capacious and neutral term for referring to Education in Ancient Greece, which is probably where this article should be moved (on the model of Education in Ancient Rome). This would help redirect the article from a collection of sweeping pronouncements about certain aristocratic and philosophical ideals gathered together in some non-neutral or random fashion, and more towards a broad treatment of an important topic in history. Wareh 20:37, 14 October 2007 (UTC) P.S. Music of ancient Greece does exist. Wareh (talk) 20:31, 9 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Different user: Thank you, to whoever wrote the above. This article most definitely needs cleanup, in content as well as placement. Much of the current material in this article is discussing the Greek word arete - and, I might add, discussing it incorrectly. Arete does not refer to the specific character-qualities of the hero-arete displayed by Homer in the Odessey; it means "role-related specific virtue." This can mean almost anything, depending on the character doing the action. Homer's dog, Argon, displayed dogly "arete" by being so loyal as to recognize his master after years of separation. The word itself has ultimately ZERO to do with paideia (except perhaps for the fact that it is, um, a greek word).


 * Basically I was about to begin revising this, and realized that I wanted to erase the entire thing, since it was all incorrect, so I restrained myself. Temporarily.


 * Oh, and the quotes - neither one has anything to do with the article's supposed topic. Nice little quotes, admittedly, but pretty random. Will somebody update them? Or I will, when I have time. - Marcia —Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.169.57.203 (talk • contribs)


 * Be bold! The existing article is extremely flawed and mediocre, and apparently no one cares enough about it to have protested at my diagnosis above in the past two months.  If you find it helpful to reduce the article to a short paragraph stub to start with, rehabilitating little or none of the current content, you would have my full support.  Wareh (talk) 17:13, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

Paideia vs doxa
The article probably needs a discussion of the dichotomy between doxa and paideia. David.Monniaux (talk) 09:06, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

Roman Empire
This article would benefit from sections detailing how paideia functioned as a common aristocratic cultural horizon in the Roman Empire, not just in Ancient Greece. — Mnemosientje (t · c) 11:30, 5 July 2019 (UTC)

golden mean section
this section as it exists has no references whatsoever, and sounds like an ad by the Greek Tourism Bureau or a silly parody. Too sweet to be real, heaven on earth. C'mon, really? can we have some NPOV? or at least some references? The article is mostly OK otherwise Yama Plos   talk  23:02, 7 August 2020 (UTC)

Connection to WP LGBT Studies?
Nothing in the article connects this topic to LGBT topics. Should the category be removed? Likeanechointheforest (talk) 18:39, 13 September 2021 (UTC)

Major Edits
I went through the article and did my best to restructure some of the less clear sections (the Lead especially). I removed some things that did not seem to be relevant (like a long bit about "arete" in the "idea of paideia..." section) and added/expanded other parts (like Aristotle's paideia proposal in politics). I also changed and added some citations and added links to Wikipedia pages for some relevant things that hadn't been linked. ExSilvissima (talk) 00:09, 8 December 2021 (UTC)