Single Idea 23264

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 1. Faculties]

Full Idea

Philosophers conceive of faculties as things which inhabit 'substances' much as we inhabit houses, not realising that causes of events are conceived in relational terms. We therefore attribute as many faculties to a substance as activities.

Gist of Idea

Philosophers think faculties are in substances, and invent a faculty for every activity

Source

Galen (The soul's dependence on the body [c.170], Kiv.2.769)

Book Reference

Galen: 'Selected Works of Galen', ed/tr. Singer,P.N. [OUP 1997], p.151


A Reaction

This seems to demolish speculative faculties, but they were revived during the Enlightenment. I am happy to talk of 'philosophical faculties' where they are presumed to originate a type of thought, without commitment to any neuroscience.