Full Idea
The soul is neither a body, nor in the body, but is only the cause of the body, because she is simultaneously everywhere and nowhere in the body.
Gist of Idea
The soul is everywhere and nowhere in the body, and must be its cause
Source
Porphyry (Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind [c.280], 6Enn5 43)
Book Reference
Porphyry: 'Launching Points to the Realm of the Mind', ed/tr. Guthrie,Kenneth [Phanes 1988], p.66
A Reaction
This is the rather bewildering phenomenology of consciousness which persuaded Descartes of dualism.
Related Idea
Idea 3609 I am a thinking substance, which doesn't need a place or material support [Descartes]