Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 13:48:05 -0500
From: "Peter L. Patrick" PPATRICK[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GUVAX.BITNET
Subject: Re: Animals and Energy
I agree with Natalie. Sounds like Chaika is trying too hard to find a
trace of an animacy/humanness distinction in this English usage.
But "energy" comes from a neutral source, I think, on the
question of humanness: Gr. ergon "work", energeia "active, effective"
seems to apply equally well to animals or humans, and certainly
predates Paul. "Animal" is from anemos "wind" -- anima "air, breath
(of life)", therefore "soul", and also -- animus "spirit". I believe
all living things were supposed to have it, at any rate before the
Christians got into the act and loused things up for non-humans.
This beats finishing my lecture schedule for Language and
Social Life, I can tell you...