In the phrase “過ちを犯しながら、それを改めないことをこそ、真の過ちという” what is the purpose of を in “をこそ”? を is a direct object marker and is usually goes object を verb. But こそ is not a verb so what does this signify? Is it just like a type of 敬語？ or just an old way of talking/phrasing?
3 comments
The verb doesn’t have to come immediately after the particle, and in this case, the verb is いう.
XをYと言う = “We call X Y,” “We refer to X as Y,”
こそ is an adverbial particle. It gives emphasis to the noun before it, saying “it is this very thing”.
With wa, ga, and the null subject marker, こそ goes before the particle.
は+こそ->こそは
が+こそ->こそが
ø+こそ->こそ (can mark the subject without a particle)
With other particles, こそ goes after it.
を+こそ->をこそ
に+こそ->にこそ
から+こそ->からこそ
I’ve never seen こそ combine with も. I don’t think the semantics of “too/as well” and “it is this very thing” combine.
Whilst making a mistake 過ちを犯しながら
not correcting that mistake それを改めないこと
is verily what is called をこそ…という
a true mistake 真の過ち