Spirit
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2008-07-11T17:39:21Z
HenryLi
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The English word "'''spirit'''" comes from the [[Latin]] "''spiritus''" (breath).
==Etymology ==
The English word "'''spirit'''" comes from the [[Latin]] ''spiritus'', meaning "[[breath]]" (compare ''[[spiritus asper]]''), but also "soul, courage, vigor", ultimately from a [[PIE]] root ''*(s)peis-'' (to blow). In the [[Vulgate]], the Latin word translates Greek (πνευμα), ''[[pneuma]]'' (Hebrew (רוח) ''ruah''), as opposed to ''[[anima]]'', translating ''[[Psyche (psychology)|psykhē]]''. The word was loaned into [[Middle English]] via [[Old French]]
The distinction between [[soul]] and spirit became current in Judeo-Christian terminology (e.g. Greek. ''psykhe'' vs. ''pneuma'', Latin ''anima'' vs. ''spiritus'', Hebrew ''ruach'' vs. ''neshama'' or [[nephesh]]; in Hebrew ''neshama'' from the root ''NSHM'' or breath.)
== Metaphysical and metaphorical uses==
The word is used in two related contexts, one [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and the other [[metaphorical]].
Its metaphysical context has attained a number of meanings:
# An [[incorporeal]] but ubiquitous, non-quantifiable substance or [[Energy (spirituality)|energy]] present individually in all living things. Unlike the concept of [[soul]]s, which are by definition eternal and usually believed to preexist the body, a spirit develops and grows as an integral aspect of the living being. This concept of the individual spirit is common among traditional peoples. It is therefore important to note the distinction between this concept of spirit and that of the pre-existing or eternal soul because belief in souls is specific and far less common, particularly in traditional societies. This is more properly termed life ("bios" in Greek) [[ether]] than spirit ("pneuma" in Greek.)
# A [[Daemon (mythology)|daemon]] [[sprite (creature)|sprite]], or especially [[ghost]]. A [[ghost]] is usually conceived as a wandering spirit from a being no longer living, having survived the death of the body yet maintaining the [[mind]] and [[consciousness]].
# In [[religion]] and [[spirituality]], the [[Respiration (physiology)|respiration]] of the human being has for obvious reasons been strongly linked with the very occurrence of life. A similar significance has been attributed to human [[blood]]. Spirit in this sense denotes that which separates a living body from a corpse and usually implies [[intelligence]], [[consciousness]] and [[sentience]].
# Spirits are often visualized as being interconnected to all others and The '''Spirit''' (singular [[capitalization|capitalized]]) refers to the theories of a unified spirituality, [[universal consciousness]] and some concepts of [[Deity]]. All "spirits" connected, form a greater unity, the '''Spirit''', which has both an identity separate from its elements plus a [[consciousness]] and [[intellect]] greater than its elements; an ultimate, unified, non-dual awareness or [[force]] of [[life]] combining or transcending all individual units of consciousness. The [[experience]] of such a connection can be a primary basis for [[supernatural|spiritual]] [[belief]]. The term ''spirit'' has been used in this sense by at least [[Anthroposophy]], [[Aurobindo]], ''[[A Course In Miracles]],'' [[Hegel]], and [[Ken Wilber]]. In this use, the term is conceptually identical to [[Plotinus|Plotinus's]] "One" and [[Friedrich Schelling|Friedrich Schelling's]] "Absolute." Similarly, according to the pan(en)theistic aspect, Spirit is the essence that can manifest itself as [[mind]]/[[soul]] through any level in pantheistic hierarchy/[[holarchy]], such as a mind/soul of a single cell (with very primitive, elemental consciousness), or a human or animal mind/soul (with [[consciousness]] on a level of organic synergy of an individual human/animal), or a (superior) mind/soul with synergetically extremely complex/sophisticated consciousness of whole galaxies involving all sub-levels, all emanating (since it is non-dimensional, or trans-dimensional) from the one Spirit.
# In Christian [[theology]], the Spirit is also used to describe [[God]], or aspects thereof as in [[Holy Spirit]], referring to a [[Triune God]] ([[Trinity]]): "The result of God reaching to man by the [[Father]] as the source, [[Jesus|the Son]] as the course ("[[the Way]]"), and through the Spirit as the transmission."
# Also in (popular) theological terms, the individual human "spirit" (singular lowercase) is a deeply situated aspect of the [[soul]] subject to "spiritual" growth and change; the very seat of emotion and desire, and the transmitting organ by which human beings can contact [[God]]. In a rare theological definition it is higher consciousness enclosing the soul. It is a central concept of [[Pneumatology]] (in context of the latter definition note that this science studies "pneuma;" Greek for "spirit," not "psyche;" Greek for "soul" studied in [[psychology]].
# In [[Christian Science]], Spirit is one of the seven synonyms for [[God]]. These are: "Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love" ([[Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures]] by [[Mary Baker Eddy]], p. 587).
# In [[Harmonism]], spirit is a term reserved for those which collectively control and influence an individual from the realm of the [[mind]].
The [[metaphorical]] use of the term likewise has several related meanings:
# The loyalty and feeling of inclusion in the social history or collective essence of an institution or group, such as in [[school spirit]] or [[esprit de corps]]
#A closely related meaning refers to the worldview of a person, place, or time, as in "The [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] was written in the spirit of [[John Locke]] and his notions of liberty", or the term ''[[zeitgeist]]'', meaning "spirit of the age".
# As a synonym for 'vivacity' as in "She performed the piece with spirit." or "She put up a spirited defense."
# The underlying intention of a [[writing|text]] as distinguished from its [[literal]] meaning, especially in [[law]]; see [[Letter and spirit of the law]]
# As a term for [[alcoholic beverages]] stemming from [[medieval]] superstitions that explained the effects of alcohol as demonic activity.
# In [[Mysticism]], as existence in unity with [[Godhead]]. Soul may also be known as spirit, but soul is certain individual human consciousness, while spirit comes from beyond that.
''See'' [[soul]] ''and'' [[ghost]] ''for related discussions.''
==Related concepts in other languages==
Similar concepts in other languages include Greek [[Pneuma]] and Sanskrit ''[[akasha]]/[[atman]]'', ''see also'' [[Prana]]. In some languages, the word for spirit is often closely related, if not synonymous to [[mind]]. Examples include the German, 'Geist' (related to the English word ghost) or the French, 'l'esprit'. In the Judaeochristian [[Bible]], the word "[[ruach]]" (רוח; "wind") is most commonly translated as the spirit, whose essence is divine (see [[Holy Spirit]]). Alternately the word [[nephesh]] is commonly used. Nephesh, as referred to by [[Kabbalah|Kabbalists]], is one of the five parts of the Jewish [[soul]], where "nephesh" (''animal'') refers to the physical being and its animal instincts. Similarly, both the [[Scandinavian languages]] and the [[Chinese language]] uses the term "breath" to refer to the spirit.
<!-- Dumpmerge from Rooah:
'''Rooah''' (also spelled '''ruah''' or '''ruach''') is a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word meaning ''[[wind]]'' or ''[[spirit]]''.
-->
== See also ==
* [[Spirituality]]
* [[Spirituality Studies]]
* [[Angel]]
* [[Brahman]]
* [[Cryptid]]
* [[Cryptozoology]]
* [[Daemon (mythology)]]
* [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]
* [[Ekam]]
* [[Ghost]]
* [[Egyptian soul|Ka]]
* [[Legendary creature]]
* [[List of legendary creatures]]
* [[Monster]]
* [[Pneuma]] and [[Pneumatology]]
* [[Prana]]
* [[Qi]]
* [[Soul]]
* [[Spiritism]]
* [[Spiritual world]]
[[Category:Spirituality]]
[[Category:Philosophical terminology]]
[[Category:Vitalism]]
[[Category:Deities, spirits, and mythic beings]]
[[ca:Esperit]]
[[de:Geist]]
[[et:Hing]]
[[es:Espíritu]]
[[ko:정신]]
[[nl:Geest]]
[[ja:精神]]
[[no:Ånd]]
[[pl:Duch (filozofia)]]
[[pt:Espírito]]
[[ru:Дух (мифология)]]
[[sq:Shpirti]]
[[simple:Spirit]]
[[fi:Henki]]
[[sv:ande]]
[[uk:Дух]]
[[zh:靈]]