David Zapatka
While attending the Theosophical Society Convention in Wheaton, Ill., this summer, I saw one of the presenters use the word “equipoise” in his presentation. The usage of the word described a relationship balance between two philosophical thoughts.
Equipoise—equi·poise noun 1. A state of equilibrium 2. Counterbalance 3. Balance of forces or interests verb 1. (transitive) to act or to make act as an equipoise 2. (transitive) to cause to be or stay in equipoise.
Origin and Etymology—from equi– “equal” + the noun poise, replacing the phrase equal poise. The earliest evidence for equipoise is from 1647, in the writing of Nathaniel Ward, clergyman and compiler of a law code for Massachusetts. More early evidence of equipoise is from 1658 in the writing of J. Robinson. Equipoise is formed within English, by compounding “equal” and “poise.”
First Known Use—mid-17th century
Used as a legal term—If the evidence for and against the defendant’s guilt is in equipoise, then the burden of proof is on the prosecution. This means that they should be in equipoise or better between trial arms and all other available alternatives.
Used in a sentence:
There is in the artist’s landscapes a delicate equipoise between the natural and the man-made.
When participating in any dangerous sport, one should maintain an equipoise between fearless boldness and commonsense caution.
She distrusts passionate intensity and bold simplicity and admires self-restraint, intellectual openness, and equipoise.
Evidence exists that patients were expected to join clinical trials that randomized them into trial arms that offered no clinical equipoise by professional community standards.
His frugality is a much-needed equipoise to his wife’s spendthrift ways.
Equipoise used on the web:
Buyers aren’t buying; sellers aren’t selling. The housing market hangs in an odd equipoise: Would-be buyers aren’t buying, and would-be sellers aren’t selling.—Daniel De Vise, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024
The authors do a great job demonstrating that allowing respect for autonomy has, at a minimum, equipoise with the authoritarian approach, if not superiority, when considering a range of measures of health and happiness.—WSJ, 3 Jan. 2022
In what areas of your life do you find equipoise? Would you like to share those with our readers? Please submit your experiences or any word you may like to share along with your insights and comments to [email protected].