hairesis (αιρησις)

(Language: Greek)

Short Description: taking, choice, course of action, election, decision

Long Description: taking, choice, course of action, election, decision; this term (plural, haireseis) refers to any group of people perceived to have a clear doctrinal identity; hairesis is a group with fairly coherent and distinctive theories, with an acknowledged founder ( hairesi-arches) and leaders who articulate their rejection of rival theories through theoretically founded polemics; Diodorus of Sicily complains that the Hellenes, unlike the Orientals, always introduce doctrinal innovations in important matters, thus ‘founding new haireseis’ (2.29.6); in the II century A.D., hairesis had become a standard term for philosophical school; the early Christians use of hairesis to refer to a body of false beliefs.

Sources: The Golden Chain: An Anthology of Platonic and Pythagorean Philosophy, by Dr. Algis Uždavinys