Saturday, September 12, 2015
Prosopolepsia
Joseph Addison, The Spectator, no. 86 (June 8, 1711):
Dear Michael Gilleland,
It is worth noting that the primary meaning of πρόσωπον (whence προσωποληψία, "respect of persons") is "face, countenance", and by extension "person". πρόσωπον is also used of an actor's mask, which is the original meaning of the Latin persona. Likewise, in Russian лицо means "face" and by extension "person". In modern Greek, προσόψιο (towel, napkin) is derived from πρόσωπο (face, person etc.) in the sense of "mask"; cf. Romanian față de masă (tablecloth, literally "table face"), față de pernă (pillowcase, literally "pillow face").
Yours sincerely,
Alistair Ian Blyth
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It is an irreparable Injustice we are guilty of towards one another, when we are prejudiced by the Looks and Features of those whom we do not know. How often do we conceive Hatred against a Person of Worth, or fancy a Man to be proud or ill-natured by his Aspect, whom we think we cannot esteem too much when we are acquainted with his real Character? Dr. Moore, in his admirable System of Ethicks, reckons this particular Inclination to take a Prejudice against a Man for his Looks, among the smaller Vices in Morality, and, if I remember, gives it the Name of a Prosopolepsia.Greek προσωποληψία (respect of persons) occurs in the New Testament (Romans 2.11, Colossians 3.25, James 2.1; προσωπολήπτης in Acts 10.34, προσωποληπτέω in James 2.9).
Dear Michael Gilleland,
It is worth noting that the primary meaning of πρόσωπον (whence προσωποληψία, "respect of persons") is "face, countenance", and by extension "person". πρόσωπον is also used of an actor's mask, which is the original meaning of the Latin persona. Likewise, in Russian лицо means "face" and by extension "person". In modern Greek, προσόψιο (towel, napkin) is derived from πρόσωπο (face, person etc.) in the sense of "mask"; cf. Romanian față de masă (tablecloth, literally "table face"), față de pernă (pillowcase, literally "pillow face").
Yours sincerely,
Alistair Ian Blyth
