ESOTERIC

esoteric, having an inner or secret meaning. this term, and its correlative "exoteric," were first applied in the ancient greek mysteries to those who were initiated ([greek: eso], within) and to those who were not ([greek: exo], outside), respectively. it was then transferred to a supposed distinction drawn by certain philosophers between the teaching given to the whole circle of their pupils and that containing a higher and secret philosophy which was reserved for a select number of specially advanced or privileged disciples. this distinction was ascribed by lucian (_vit. auct._ 26) to aristotle (q.v.), who, however, uses [greek: exoterikoi logoi] (_nic. ethics_) merely of "popular treatises." it was probably adopted by the pythagoreans and was also attributed to plato. in the sense of mystic it is used of a secret doctrine of theosophy, supposed to have been traditional among certain disciples of buddhism.