This term was used for the first time by Heraclitus of Ephesus, referring to a series of propositions on the symptoms and diagnosis of diseases. Later this concept was applied to physical science and subsequently generalized to all kinds of principles.
An aphorism is a poetic idea, a literary idea. It is a writing through which you can emit a sudden idea, it looks like a telegram.
The aphorisms, therefore, are propositions that seek to pronounce something coherently and concisely. The idea was proposed by Hippocrates regarding the sentences that were used to name the symptoms of diseases and to diagnose them. The idea spread to other sciences from this use. It is common for aphorisms to be confused with sayings, proverbs, axioms, maxims and adages, among other types of expressions. In many cases, these words are used synonymously.
The apothegm is also considered synonymous with the aphorism, which is the saying made by a famous person and characterized by being short and direct, like the sentence. This comes to indicate a manifestation or decision that has an opinion on a specific issue or problem.
On a general level, an aphorism can be said to emerge from experience. That is why they are generally used in areas where the scientific method does not apply. Over time, aphorisms developed into a kind of literary genre or format, often with poetic intent.
The aphorism is typically created by a single person, who is therefore the author. However, proverbs were born of people and are anonymous. It also deals with proverbs that also have an implicit warning.
Examples: "the author gave another of his famous apophtegmes before the end of the interview", "will he stop with his aphorism?" "I am quite tall, so give me advice", "the philosopher wrote several apophtegmes in life in the country ".
At the request of a science or art, the aphorism turns out to be a brief expression, of the type of sentence that proposes to make the opinion of a rule or a precept through it.
The characteristics of conciseness, brevity and coherence are inherent characteristics of the aphorism and its objective will be, through these weapons, to emit an idea, an assessment that strikes and not leave room for doubt or concern regarding what it is about.
However, it should be noted that the truth does not always dominate in aphorisms, and much less because it may happen that what is proposed in an aphorism on a topic does not correspond at all to the truth or the half presented as popularly said. Therefore, it is important to consider that beyond the limitation that an aphorism can propose from its form it does not imply that what is said in it is an absolute truth that is not discussed.
