What Does ‘Excess’ Mean?

Most people understand the concept of excess. Generally speaking, when something is excessive, it is more than required or necessary; it is excessive. But in order to better understand the concept of excess, it is important to look at it from different angles and perspectives.

The Origin of Excess

The concept of excess stems from the Latin word “excedere” which translates to “to go beyond”. This indicates that when something is excessive, it goes beyond the necessary amount or level in order to fulfill its purpose. The concept of excess has been used in various contexts throughout history. For example, the idea of excess has been suggested for pleasure. Aristocrat philosopher Epicurus talked about how there should be a consideration of pleasure and the limit of pleasure, mentioning that pleasure should not be excessive.

Uses of Excess

The concept of excess can be used in a variety of ways in everyday life, whether it’s in discussing our behavior, attitudes, or skill levels. Here are a couple examples of how the concept of excess can be used.

When speaking of our behavior, we might say that someone is “too much” or “too extreme”. This type of behavior would be deemed as excessive, since it is going beyond the normal level.

When it comes to our attitudes or mentality, we might speak of someone having an excess of pride or being too arrogant. This indicates that the person’s attitude is more than what is necessary and they are going beyond the normal level of confidence.

Lastly, when it comes to skill levels, we might refer to someone as having an excess of talent. This denotes that this person has an exceptional amount of skill that exceeds the average skill level.

Excessive vs. Moderation

In short, the concept of excess is basically a measurement of the amount or level of something, whether it be a behavior, feeling, or skill. Whether it’s in speaking of pleasure, behavior, attitude, or skill level, the idea behind the concept of excess is that it should not be too much. In a sense, it should be used in moderation. The key is to recognize when something is excessive and be mindful of how it may affect our lives.