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concept5th century BCE-present

Nous

Disciplines:
philosophy of mind
metaphysics

Summary

Greek philosophical concept meaning mind, intellect, or reason — used variously by Anaxagoras (as a cosmic ordering principle), Plato (as the highest faculty of the soul), Aristotle (as the active intellect), and Plotinus (as the second hypostasis in the emanation hierarchy).

Core Contribution

Provided ancient philosophy with a non-material principle of cosmic order and epistemic access to intelligible reality — the capacity that allows the philosopher to think the eternal Forms or unmoved mover.

Historical Influences

Anaxagoras Plato Aristotle Plotinus

Intellectual Lineage

No conceptual lineage found.

Allied Works

Enneads On the Soul Republic

Contemporaries & Peers

No recorded contemporaries.

Minds Influenced

No recorded minds influenced.

Intellectual Posterity

No conceptual posterity found.

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Nous

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