Harmony
as 'obliged to fit together'
Morphological analysis
- Etymon: Harmony from Ancient Greek harmoníā): 'fitting together'
- Morpheme breakdown: Clipping of harmózō: 'fit together' + suffix -mōnī: 'obliged to'. → 'obliged to fit together'
Essential definition
Harmony is the ontological principle and active imperative that all elements within a relational system are obliged to fit together. It is not a passive state of agreement but the constitutive process that demands adaptation, coherence, and interdependent integrity as a non-negotiable condition for existence.
Semantic context
- Conventional sense: Agreement or accord. (Note: Semantic drift from essential meaning)
- Essential meaning (my usage): obliged to fit together
Philosophical significance
This definition elevates harmony from a descriptive outcome to a prescriptive, ontological principle. It establishes harmony as the fundamental imperative that actively governs and constitutes all relational existence, where fitting together is a non-negotiable condition for being. This shifts the concept from an aesthetic ideal to the primary process underlying adaptation, coherence, and systemic integrity.
Usage in this lexicon
When I use the word harmony in my work, I mean exactly 'obliged to fit together'. This definition:
- provides a clear and foundational etymology by explaining the word's original conceptual components;
- emphasizes an inherent responsibility or necessity by moving beyond mere passive compatibility;
- shifts the perception from a static state of agreement by positioning harmony as an active process or requirement in conference or 'bearing together';
- introduces a dimension of duty or constraint by suggesting the fitting together is not optional but essential;
- creates a framework for understanding harmony by establishing it as a principle that demands participation and adjustment;
- offers a precise lens for analyzing systems by allowing examination of structures where elements are interdependent by necessity;
- distinguishes the definition from more common interpretations by moving beyond interpretations focused solely on pleasant combination.
Related terms
Sources
*This definition follows morphological essentialism principles. See the Methodology for details.
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