Where Does the Term Anagnorisis Come from?

Anagnorisis comes from the Greek anagnorisis, meaning “recognition,” which itself is derived from ana, “again,” and gnorizein, “to make known, to gain knowledge of.” The word evolved from the root gno, which means “to know.” Anagnorisis first entered the English language circa 1790 when discussing Aristotle's own ...

Where does the word anagnorisis come from?

Aristotle first discussed anagnorisis, a Greek word meaning “recognition,” in his work Poetics in which he explores dramatic and literary theory.

Who invented anagnorisis?

In his Poetics, as part of his discussion of peripeteia, Aristotle defined anagnorisis as "a change from ignorance to knowledge, producing love or hate between the persons destined by the poet for good or bad fortune" (1452a). It is often discussed along with Aristotle's concept of catharsis.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.