Kalokagathia

Kalokagathia ( ancient Greek καλοκἀγαθία kalokagathía ), derived from καλὸς καὶ ἀγαθός kalós kai agathós or contracted καλὸς κἀγαθός kalós kagathós ("beautiful and good"), is the name for a Greek ideal of physicality and excellence. The term describes a combination of physical beauty and mental excellence, which appears as the overall excellence ( arete ) of the person. The term plays a major role in Socrates , for example in Plato's dialogues , or indirectly in Xenophon's memorabilia (III, 8). In the 5th century BC The term was mostly used for nobles in the 4th century BC. Generally for outstanding personalities.

Friedrich Hölderlin strove for this Kalokagathia both in poetry and in real life.

See also

• perfection
• Beautiful soul
• Mens sana in corpore sano

literature

• Félix Bourriot: Kalos kagathos - kalokagathia. D'un terme de propagande de sophistes à une notion sociale et philosophique . 2 volumes, Olms, Hildesheim 1995, ISBN 3-487-10000-2 (thorough, extensive investigation)
• Hermann Wankel : Kalos kai agathos , Würzburg 1961 (dissertation), reprint New York 1979

reception

• Ingomar Weiler : The Kalokagathia ideal and the 'ugly' athlete's body . In: Peter Mauritsch (Ed.): Body in the head. Ancient discourses on the body . Leykam, Graz 2010, ISBN 978-3-7011-0177-1 , pp. 95-119
• Irena Martínková: Three Interpretations of Kalokagathia . In: Peter Mauritsch (Ed.): Body in the head. Ancient discourses on the body . Leykam, Graz 2010, ISBN 978-3-7011-0177-1 , pp. 17-28