W poszukiwaniu ideału człowieka pięknego – kulturotwórcze inspiracje areté

The object of this sketch is to attempt to reflect on the ancient Greek culture, analyzed with a view to the current search for the ideal of a beautiful man, and ways of its conscious fulfillment. The attempt is conducted through the prism of the term of areté, within the frame of which attempts will be made at capturing some of the oldest aspects of the Hellenic culture in this respect. This kind of approach to the issue refers to Werner Jaeger’s stance. In his opinion, it is not paideía which is the primal and „natural theme of the Greek culture,” but “the term areté, which leads us back to the oldest times”. The research area delineated by this sketch will be designated by selected works of Homer and Hesiod, as well as Protagoras’ and Socrates’ relevant thought passed by Plato on to future generations. Exposed in this research undertaking, the senses of the term areté – with their reference to the concept of human life – will, on the one hand, reveal its typical semantic continuity, and on the other one, they will show its novelty, which characterizes it in a culture-forming and existential manner , and which is introduced by each of the thinkers in question. It is the novelty which comes to be manifested in the Homeric reasonable advice and bravery in fight, Hesiodian life wisdom, Protagorean learned proficiency in household and state matters, as well as the learned good citizenship and the Socratic concept of justice, whose definition is invoked in Book IV of Plato’s Republic