daimonion
9.9
An inner voice that guides a person in ancient Greek thought
- noun
- /ˌdaɪˈmoʊniən/
- Formal
:
daimonion
- Throughout history, many have described a daimonion as an essential part of personal growth.
Examples
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The philosopher believed that listening to his inner daimonion helped him find clarity.
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So in Greek the term is au daimonia, which doesn't translate exactly as happiness, but is close enough being of good spirit.
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Socrates often spoke of his daimonion guiding him in moral decisions.
Synonyms
1
9.9
An inner voice that guides a person's choices
focuses more on philosophical accounts of a guiding inner voice
9.9
A kind spirit from ancient Greek belief that protects people
is instead centered on a guiding inner voice rather than general goodness
How Influential
Surface Forms
daimonion singular
daimonions plural
Etymology
Daimonion comes from the old Greek root daimon, which means 'spirit' or 'divine power'. People like Socrates talked about a small inner voice that warned or guided them, so daimonion can mean a guiding spirit or inner voice.