| 释义 |
exoteric, a. and n.|ɛksəʊˈtɛrɪk|
[ad. late L. exōteric-us, a. Gr. ἐξωτερικ-ός, f. ἐξωτέρω, compar. of ἔξω outside.]
A. adj.
1. Pertaining to the outside; external. Now only with some allusion to sense 2.
1662H. More Philos. Writ. Pref. (1662) p. vi, An Exoterick Fence or exteriour Fortification about Theologie. 1790Paley Horæ Paul. Wks. 1825 III. 127 This motive appears to have been always exoteric, viz. a love of order and tranquillity. 1808Scott Autobiog. in Lockhart (1839) I. 50 All the knights and ladies and dragons and giants in their outward and exoteric sense. 1858Gladstone Homer II. 60 Charged with the exoteric and material parts of several..functions.
b. Phys. ‘Applied to those periodic, vital phenomena, which result from causes external to, and independent of, the organism.’ (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1884).
1860in Mayne Exp. Lex.
2. Of philosophical doctrines, treatises, modes of speech, etc.: Designed for or suitable to the generality of disciples; communicated to outsiders, intelligible to the public. Hence of disciples, etc.: Belonging to the outer circle; not admitted to the esoteric teaching. Of an author: Dealing with ordinary topics; commonplace, simple. Opposed to esoteric, q.v. for the history of the words.
1655–60Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 232/1 The Discourse and Doctrine which he [Aristotle] delivered to his Disciples was of two kinds. One he called Exoterick. 1738Warburton Div. Legat. iii. iii. Wks. (1811) III. 58 He divided his disciples into two classes; the one he called the Esoteric, the other, the Exoteric. a1754,1768[see esoteric A. 1]. 1791Boswell Johnson 1 July an. 1763, With an air of superiority, like that of an esoterick over an exoterick disciple of a sage of antiquity. 1847Lewes Hist. Philos. (1867) I. 210 Plato like Pythagoras had exoteric and esoteric opinions. 1870R. C. Jebb Sophocles' Electra (ed. 2) 44/2 As if Apollo were an exoteric name for the Sun. 1870Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 153 In mind and temperament too exoteric for a mystic.
3. transf.
a. Current among the outside public; popular, ordinary, prevailing.
b. Qualifying a personal epithet: That is such exoterically, or with regard to his popular utterances.
1813M. Edgeworth Patron. xxxvi, This exoteric practice goes on to this hour among literary performers. 1850Carlyle Latter-d. Pamph. iii. 6 Such..is the exoteric public conviction about these sublime establishments in Downing Street. 1876[see esoteric A. 2].
B. n.
1. pl. (after Gr. τὰ ἐξωτερικά) Exoteric doctrines; exoteric treatises.
1738Warburton Div. Legat. iii. note Wks. (1811) III. 359 In his exoterics, he gave the world both a beginning and an end. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 31 Our exoterics will run directly contrary to our esoterics.
2. An uninitiated person, an outsider.
1697State Philadelph. Soc. 19 The Philadelphians have many things to say that cannot be declared among the Exotericks. 1824Macaulay Crit. Ital. Writers Misc. Writ. & Sp. (1889) 51, I am an exoteric—utterly unable to explain the mysteries of this new poetical faith. |