Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Vassilis Politis, John Duns Scotus and Epicurus

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3 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche
The rational soul is in the chest, and the non-rational soul is spread through the body [Epicurus]
     Full Idea: Democritus and Epicurus say the soul has two parts, one which is rational and is situated in the chest area, and the other which is non-rational and is spread throughout the entire compound of the body
     From: Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE])
     A reaction: [source Aetius 4.4.6]
The soul is fine parts distributed through the body, resembling hot breath [Epicurus]
     Full Idea: The soul is a body made up of fine parts distributed throught the entire aggregate, most closely resembling breath with a certain admixture of heat, in one way resembling breath and in another resembling heat
     From: Epicurus (Letter to Herodotus [c.293 BCE], 63)
     A reaction: Remember that 'psuché' refers as much to the life within a creature as it does to the consciousness. The stoics seem to have held a similar view.
Soul is made of four stuffs, giving warmth, rest, motion and perception [Epicurus, by Aetius]
     Full Idea: Epicurus says the soul is a blend of fiery stuff (for bodily warmth), airy stuff (rest), breath (motion), and a nameless stuff (sense-perception).
     From: report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Aetius - fragments/reports 4.3.11
     A reaction: Obviously Epicurus thought the four stuffs were different combinations of atoms, rather than being elements. Is there no stuff which gives reason? Reason must reduce to motion, presumably.