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Single Idea 18458

[filed under theme 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 1. Dualism ]

Full Idea

The individual soul, which declines towards matter, is bound to the matter by the form which her disposition has made her choose.

Gist of Idea

The soul is bound to matter by the force of its own disposition

Source

Porphyry (Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind [c.280], 6Enn4 39)

Book Ref

Porphyry: 'Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind', ed/tr. Guthrie,Kenneth [Phanes 1988], p.62


A Reaction

This sounds like the soul is boss over the matter, and yet the soul is 'made' to choose union with matter. The Universal Soul is seen by Porphyr as the controller of the situation.


The 21 ideas from 'Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind'

Civil virtues make us behave benevolently, and thereby unite citizens [Porphyry]
Civil virtues control the passions, and make us conform to our nature [Porphyry]
Purificatory virtues detach the soul completely from the passions [Porphyry]
There are practical, purificatory, contemplative, and exemplary virtues [Porphyry]
We should avoid the pleasures of love, or at least, should not enact our dreams [Porphyry]
Nature binds or detaches body to soul, but soul itself joins and detaches soul from body [Porphyry]
Philosophy has its own mode of death, by separating soul from body [Porphyry]
The presence of the incorporeal is only known by certain kinds of disposition [Porphyry]
Intelligence is aware of itself, so the intelligence is both the thinker and the thought [Porphyry]
Time is the circular movement of the soul [Porphyry]
Some think time is seen at rest, as well as in movement [Porphyry]
Memory is not conserved images, but reproduction of previous thought [Porphyry]
Unified real existence is neither great nor small, though greatness and smallness participate in it [Porphyry]
Individual souls are all connected, though distinct, and without dividing universal Soul [Porphyry]
The soul is bound to matter by the force of its own disposition [Porphyry]
Diversity arises from the power of unity [Porphyry]
The soul is everywhere and nowhere in the body, and must be its cause [Porphyry]
God is nowhere, and hence everywhere [Porphyry]
Everything existing proceeds from divinity, and is within divinity [Porphyry]
Successful introspection reveals the substrate along with the object of thought [Porphyry]
Justice is each person fulfilling his function [Porphyry]