arkhein

Arkhein is an ancient Greek term centered on the idea of origin, beginning, or rule. In Greek, the verb arkhō (ἄρχω) means “to rule,” and the related noun archḗ (ἄρχη) means “principle,” “origin,” or “beginning.” The infinitive form arkheîn (ἄρχειν) is often glossed as “to rule” but in philosophical contexts it is closely tied to the notion of a first principle or primary cause.

In classical philosophy, arkhein is used to describe the fundamental principle that explains the existence and order of things. Pre-Socratic thinkers sought an archē as the underlying substance or principle of reality, proposing candidates such as water, air, fire, or the apeiron (the indefinite boundless). For Aristotle, archē signifies a primary starting principle or cause within nature and science, guiding explanations of why things are and how they change. The concept functioned as a tool for understanding change, substance, and explanation, and it influenced later metaphysical and theological thought, including medieval discussions of the “first cause.”

Linguistically, the root arch- appears in many English terms related to rule, beginning, or principal status, such as archon, monarchy, and arch- in archipelago or archangel. The Greek lineage also underpins the broader semantic field of priority and authority found in many scientific and philosophical expressions.

Arkhein, therefore, functions as a hinge term in the study of ancient philosophy and Greek linguistics, signaling both an act (to rule) and a foundational principle (the origin or first cause) in its various historical uses. See also archē and related philosophical discussions on the first cause.