Intuition and Mind

September 3, 2009 | Posted by admin

nohsiV [nóêsis]

Greek word for intuition or thinking; the operation of nouV [nous] without benefit of the discursive reasoning that characterizes dianoia [diánoia]. According to Plato, such awareness represents the highest portion of human knowledge. From this foundation, Plotinus developed a detailed theory about the operation of the human soul in relation to the world. Husserl later appropriated this Greek term in order to emphasize the characteristic intentionality of mental acts.

nouV [nous]

Greek term for mind, reason, or intellect. Thus, in the philosophy of Anaxagoras, nouV is an organizing principle for the universe as a whole. Plato distinguished this cosmic sense from the more ordinary operation of the human soul in achieving higher knowledge. Aristotle typically regarded nouV as the distinctive faculty involved in the acquisition of general knowledge. As always, Plotinus elevated this into a quasi-divine principle.

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