kalon

American  

[kuh-lon] / kəˈlɒn /

noun

1. (especially in ancient Greek philosophy) the ideal of beauty, especially moral goodness or nobility.

   He had done what was morally right and necessary, had taken possession of kalon, and thus fulfilled his destiny as a man.

   Achilles decides that his physical life is less important than the demands of kalon.

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Etymology

Origin of kalon

First recorded in 1745–50; from Greek kalón, neuter of kalós, “beautiful, fair”; cf. calli- ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kalon

But “beautiful” in the Aristotelian sense can also refer to kalon, a Greek word that can indicate a moral beauty, a nobility of spirit.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2016

Indeed, so close is the connection between the two conceptions that the Greeks used the same word, to kalon, to express beauty of form and nobility of character.

From Christianity and Ethics A Handbook of Christian Ethics by Alexander, Archibald B. C.

HERMOGENES: Very likely you are right; but suppose that we leave these words and endeavour to see the rationale of kalon and aischron.

From Cratylus by Jowett, Benjamin

Consult, lastly, the philosophers, they will answer you with gibberish: they have to have something conforming to the arch-type of beauty in essence, to the to kalon.

From Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire

He agreed that the tragedy had inspired these sentiments in him, and that there was the to kalon, beauty.

From Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire