Etymology: why libertarians are literally "idiots"

[caraher]

So I'm reading Melissa Lane's "Eco-Republic" and run across the following factoid:

In any given situation an Athenian had to choose to act either as a citizen (polites) or as a private individual (idiotes), concerning himself either with common concerns (to koinon) or with private ones (to idion). As one scholar observes, 'The Athenians distinguished between the individual as a private person and as a citizen rather than between the individual and the state.' Idiotes is the origin of our word 'idiot.' And this is no accident. For while one did rightly sometimes pursue one's interests as an idiotes, one was truly an idiot if one did so in matters or moments when more public-spirited engagement was required, or if one did so forgetting that one was also and always a citizen.

[alittlelark]

1. I know a few ppl I will send that factoid to.....

[abelenkpe]

2. I love this post

Truly.


Thank you.

[caraher]

3. One of those "too good to be true" moments in reading

At the first instance of idiotes I thought... could this be going where I think it is?

I'd imagine it's the root of other words like "idiom" and "idiosyncrasy..."

[progressoid]

4. Ok, Eco-Republic is now on my reading list.

Thanks!