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Single Idea 5959

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

Full Idea

Some philosophers hold that the soul is in its essence light.

Gist of Idea

Some philosophers say the soul is light

Source

Plutarch (75: Is 'Live Unknown' a Wise Precept? [c.85], §6)

Book Ref

Plutarch: 'Selected Essays and Dialogues', ed/tr. Russell,Donald [OUP 1993], p.123


A Reaction

A nice idea, to rival the stoic view that the soul is fire. It is understandable to propose that the soul is some sort of lightweight and fast moving matter. How else could thought be achieved physically? Nowadays, parallel processing is our only model.


The 16 ideas from Plutarch

Absurd superstitions make people atheist, not disharmony in nature [Plutarch]
The sun is always bright; it doesn't become bright when it emerges [Plutarch]
Being manly and brave is the result of convention, not of human nature [Plutarch]
Animals have not been led into homosexuality, because they value pleasure very little [Plutarch]
Animals don't value pleasure, as they cease sexual intercourse after impregnation [Plutarch]
When the soul is intelligent and harmonious, it is part of god and derives from god [Plutarch]
Some say emotion is a sort of reason, and others say virtue concerns emotion [Plutarch]
People report seeing through rocks, or over the horizon, or impossibly small works [Plutarch]
The good life involves social participation, loyalty, temperance and honesty [Plutarch]
If only atoms exist, how do qualities arise when the atoms come together? [Plutarch]
If atoms have no qualities, they cannot possibly produce a mind [Plutarch]
Rather than being the whole soul, maybe I am its chief part? [Plutarch]
No one will ever find a city that lacks religious practices [Plutarch]
Action needs an affinity for a presentation, and an impulse toward the affinity [Plutarch]
Some philosophers say the soul is light [Plutarch]
Replacing timbers on Theseus' ship was the classic illustration of the problem of growth and change [Plutarch]