τὸ αὐτὸ αὑτὸ κινοῦν

Greek Learning Greek
1

Would not just “τὸ αὑτὸ κινοῦν” mean the same? What does “αὐτὸ” add here (or why is it needed)?
The context:
“ἐξ ἀρχῆς γὰρ ἀνάγκη πᾶν τὸ γιγνόμενον γίγνεσθαι, αὐτὴν δὲ μηδ’ ἐξ ἑνός· εἰ γὰρ ἔκ του ἀρχὴ γίγνοιτο, οὐκ ἂν ἔτι ἀρχὴ γίγνοιτο. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀγένητόν ἐστιν, καὶ ἀδιάφθορον αὐτὸ ἀνάγκη εἶναι. ἀρχῆς γὰρ δὴ ἀπολομένης οὔτε αὐτή ποτε ἔκ του οὔτε ἄλλο ἐξ ἐκείνης γενήσεται, εἴπερ ἐξ ἀρχῆς δεῖ τὰ πάντα γίγνεσθαι. οὕτω δὴ κινήσεως μὲν ἀρχὴτὸ αὐτὸ αὑτὸ κινοῦν.” (Plato, Phdr. 245d)

2

It’s not just that which moves itself (το αὑτο κινουν), it’s that which moves itself by itself (αὐτο). Logically redundant (I think) but emphasizing that it needs nothing to make it move itself. It moves itself under its own steam (so to speak!). A very Greek redundancy.

3

Thanks, Michael! So αὐτὸ is accusative here? This is what “by itself” seems to imply.

4

No. As I understand it, αὐτο (smooth breathing) is nominative, in agreement with το κινουν (the predicate of κινήσεως μὲν ἀρχὴ). it’s αὑτο (=ἑαυτό) that’s accusative, the direct object of κινοῦν. See if you can figure it out.

5

Got it, thanks!