Single Idea 20912

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche]

Full Idea

Democritus says the soul is the same thing as the mind.

Gist of Idea

The soul is the same as the mind

Source

report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], A101) by Aristotle - De Anima 405a10

Book Reference

Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.191


A Reaction

This is not in contrast to the Christian concept of the soul, but in contrast to the normal view of psuché, which is more like the life that permeates the whole body. Democritus was more in tune than Aristotle with modern thought on this.

Related Idea

Idea 20913 Democritus says the soul is the body, and thinking is thus the mixture of the body [Democritus, by Theophrastus]