zetetic

English

WOTD – 14 April 2009

Alternative forms

• zetetical
• zetetick (archaic)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ζητητικός (zētētikós, “inquisitive, keen”), from ζητέω (zētéō, “I seek”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /zə.ˈtɛt.ɪk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

zetetic (not comparable)

1. (philosophy) Proceeding by inquiry or investigation.
   • 1865, Samuel Birley Rowbotham, Zetetic Astronomy, 2022 facsimile reprint, Salzwasser Verlag, page 6,

     Hence, in every zetetic process, the conclusion arrived at is essentially a quotient, which, if the details be correct, must, of necessity, be true beyond the reach or power of contradiction.

   • 1887, A. Wilford Hall (editor), Scientific Arena: The Organ of the Substantial Philosophy, Volume 1, Hall & Co., page 42,

     This^{[the assumption that the earth is an extended plain]} is the great central zetetic assumption on which the whole theory is based.

   • 1994, Willi Goetschel, Constituting Critique, page 74:

     The zetetic approach or, as Kant translates it, the searching approach, becomes the element by means of which the discourse develops, the medium in which philosophical thinking occurs.

2. Of or pertaining to zetetic astronomy (which employs zetetic principles to argue that the earth is flat).
   • 1884, Edwin Archer Randolph, The Life of Rev. John Jasper, page 44,

     This^{[the assumption that the earth is flat]} is the doctrine held by the Zetetic school of philosophy, which some years ago made quite a stir in England. […] An active propagandist of Zetetic doctrine is Professor William Carpenter, 71 Chew street, who has been in this country for about five years.

   • 1887, Marcellus John Thompson, "Evolution of Sound" Evolved: A Review..., Standard Publishing Company, page xix,

     But another craze, much similar to Dr. Hall's philosophy, is now running its course among us, namely the Zetetic Philosophy, or the theory that the earth is flat—advocated especially by John Hampden, of England, and William Carpenter, of the United States. These people believe, with Parson Jasper, that "the sun do move."

Derived terms

• zetetic astronomy
• zetetically
• zeteticism
• zetetics
• zetetist

Translations

Translations

• Esperanto: zetetika
• Finnish: zeteettinen
• French: zététique (fr)
• Italian: zetetico
• Occitan: zetetic

Noun

zetetic (plural zetetics)

1. A skeptic.

Translations

a sceptic, skeptic — see also skeptic

• Czech: skeptik m
• Finnish: skeptikko (fi)
• French: zététique (fr) m
• Occitan: zetetic
• Russian: ске́птик (ru) m (sképtik)
• Scottish Gaelic: ^{(please verify)} neo-chreidmheach m