• paysrenttobirds@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      3 months ago

      Greek autopsia “a seeing with one’s own eyes,”

      So I guess it works regardless of species. Though I’m not sure I believe this. Like how else did ancient Greeks see?

    • argh_another_username@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      3 months ago

      That’s a nice interpretation!

      So, I did a simple search (autopsy vs necropsy) and the first three links gave me three different answers! First said they’re synonyms. Second simple said autopsy is for humans and necropsy is for animals. Now, the third one gave your interpretation. Autopsy is for humans because it’s the same species.

      • Boxscape@lemmy.sdf.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        Now, the third one gave your interpretation. Autopsy is for humans because it’s the same species.

        Hmm, that seems kind of inconsistent with auto as a prefix elsewhere. E.g., autofellatio, autoimmune, autobiography. It’s auto because it’s yourself, not another member of the same species.

        Though there’s also autocrat, which seemingly is on its own and not referring to membership or self.

        • otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          3 months ago

          Autocracy means “absolute rule by one”, by “autocrator” (auto+kratos) to describe the Roman Emperor (n. Latin “imperator”), but is from multiple origins at this point. 🖖🏼