Les connotations d’ἀνήρ et ἄνθρωπος chez les orateurs attiques du IVe siècle
Abstract
The present paper studies adjectives and participles with good or bad meanings used with ἀνήρ and ἄνθρωπος by Attic orators in the fourth century BC. It appears that most of the adjectives and participles used with ἀνήρ give this noun good connotation, whereas most of those used with ἄνθρωπος give it bad connotation. Indeed, the orators often use the commonplace ἀγαθός ἀνήρ and καλὸς κἀγαθός ἀνήρ; other adjectives and participles also confirm that ἀνήρ is perceived as “good man”, whereas ἄνθρωπος is most of the time perceived as “bad man”. Even without such words, ἀνήρ can be most of the time understood as “good man”, whereas ἄνθρωπος alone can be understood more often as “bad individual”. The final part of the paper suggests ways to explain this fact.