What Ancient Greek word or idea signifies a knowledge of when to break the rules?

Question

Some time ago, my friend shared with me a word from Ancient Greek that signifies an interesting concept. The concept is knowing when it is okay to break rules. Unfortunately, I quickly forgot the word that he mentioned, but I thought that maybe you guys could help me find it. Is anyone here familiar with this concept, and with any Ancient Greek words that name this concept? Does a similar word or concept exist in Latin?

To be clear, the concept is not about condoning immoral actions, but rather, when breaking the rules is the right thing to do, or the wisest course of action. The rules I'm referring to could either be laws, norms, or your own habits or customs.

Answer 1

You are probably looking for the words ἐπιείκεια and γνώμη. The former word is often translated "equity" and is described by Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics, bk. 6, ch. 10 as a sort of correction to a universal rule or law that is in keeping with the spirit of the law. Plato had discussed a case in which the law might need correction in his Republic when talking about whether it is just to return someone's sword if that person has gone insane. This is a paradigmatic case calling for equity. In Nicomachean Ethics, bk. 7, ch. 11, Aristotle describes γνώμη as the intellectual capacity helping one to make equitable judgments.

Latin authors such as Cicero were clearly aware of this notion. For instance, he states that you should not return the sword to the insane person in De Officiis, bk. 3, n. 95:

Si gladium quis apud te sana mente deposuerit, repetat insaniens, reddere peccatum sit, officium non reddere.

With the recovery of Aristotle in the Latin west in Medieval times, these issues were again discussed by Aristotle's scholastic followers such as Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas notes that the term ἐπιείκεια corresponds to the Latin word aequitas in the following passage from his Summa, II-II, q. 120:

. . . Et ad hoc ordinatur epieikeia, quae apud nos dicitur aequitas.

Aquinas also discusses γνώμη but does not indicate a Latin equivalent.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about rule breaking in particular, but when I think of "right time" to do things, the word that first pops up in my head is καιρός.

In English, we often just make the word "time," though it's clearly distinct from the method of hour- and minute-keeping. Our "it's the time for giving" is expressed in their καιρός δόσιος. When the Scythians came with "timely advice", Herodotus characterized it as "ἐς καιρὸν."

I can't think of a particular example, but I can imagine a scenario in which someone says that it's the "time to break rules" using καιρός as the translation of time.

Note that the ordinary word for "time" is χρόνος.

Answer 3

After a bit more research, I think the word you are looking for is φρόνησις. According to Wikipedia,

Phronesis (Ancient Greek: φρόνησις, phronēsis) is a Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence. It is more specifically a type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others. Phronesis was a common topic of discussion in ancient Greek philosophy.

Furthermore,

In Book 6 of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle distinguishes between two intellectual virtues which are sometimes translated as "wisdom": sophia and phronesis... Phronesis also combines a capability of rational thinking, with a type of knowledge. On the one hand it requires the capability to rationally consider actions which can deliver desired effects.

Furthermore,

Phronesis is concerned with particulars, because it is concerned with how to act in particular situations. One can learn the principles of action, but applying them in the real world, in situations one could not have foreseen, requires experience of the world. For example, if one knows that one should be honest, one might act in certain situations in ways that cause pain and offense; knowing how to apply honesty in balance with other considerations and in specific contexts requires experience.

Answer 4

What about αρνησικυρία? (pr. arnisikiria)

First of all, apologies, I speak only modern Greek. But it might be of some help.

Αρνησικυρία formally means veto, but I've heard it being used as the refusal of an authority to accept a law or conviction; authorities being able to do so more easily than individuals, of course. So it's not exactly "when it's okay to break the rules", it's more "I openly declare that I will not accept the legal decision".

I got the hint from your other question here which is the continuation of the present one :) -κυρία refers to either κυριαρχία (dominion) or κύρωση (sanction). Άρνηση is refusal.

Answer 5

Although I gave another answer before and although I think that the correct answer could turn out to be "επιείκια", let me add this for completeness:

"Επιορκία" is oath-breaking and false swearing (and sounding close to the remembered one).