#Intellect and Reason

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Nous

The philosophy of nous, an ancient Greek term often translated as "mind" or "intellect," plays a significant role in both classical and medieval philosophy. Nous represents the highest aspect of human cognition and is understood as the rational and divine part of the mind that connects with universal truths, knowledge, and even the divine itself. In different philosophical contexts, it has been interpreted as the purest form of reasoning, the "inner eye" that can perceive reality beyond sensory experience, or the unifying principle that brings order to the cosmos.

Key Concepts and Interpretations of Nous

Anaxagoras and the Cosmic Mind: An early understanding of nous comes from the Pre-Socratic philosopher Anaxagoras, who described it as the cosmic force that organizes and animates the universe. For Anaxagoras, nous is an all-pervading mind that brings order to the chaotic materials of the world, an abstract principle that initiates motion and guides natural processes. This conception of nous as the organizing intelligence behind all existence is one of the first attempts to explain the universe through rational, non-mythological means.

Plato's Nous as Divine Intelligence: In Platonic philosophy, nous is associated with the realm of the Forms, or ideal essences. Plato considered nous to be the rational faculty of the soul that enables individuals to access these timeless truths. Through the exercise of nous, one can understand reality not just as it appears but as it truly is. In this sense, nous is the intellectual faculty that enables people to grasp abstract concepts, such as beauty, justice, and goodness, as reflections of their pure forms.

Aristotle's Nous as the Active Intellect: Aristotle built on Plato’s ideas but offered a more detailed exploration of nous in relation to human cognition. He distinguished between nous poietikos (active intellect) and nous pathetikos (passive intellect). The active intellect, according to Aristotle, is the faculty that enables individuals to actualize knowledge from potential understanding, allowing one to abstract universals from particular experiences. Aristotle’s concept of nous bridges the gap between sense perception and universal knowledge, suggesting it has an immortal, impersonal quality that transcends individual experience.

Neoplatonism and Nous as the Divine Mind: In Neoplatonism, nous took on a more mystical dimension, regarded as the first emanation from the One (the absolute, transcendent source of all existence). For philosophers like Plotinus, nous was the realm of divine ideas, embodying pure, universal knowledge that the soul can access through contemplation. Here, nous is not just an aspect of human cognition but an intermediate cosmic principle that reflects the divine and provides a model of intellectual and spiritual ascent.

Medieval Christian Interpretations: In medieval Christian philosophy, nous was often associated with the divine intellect, God’s knowledge, or the rational soul. Philosophers like Thomas Aquinas integrated the concept of nous into Christian thought, seeing it as the rational aspect of the soul that could contemplate God and participate in divine wisdom. This interpretation of nous upheld its role as a bridge between humanity and the divine, interpreting it as a faculty through which people can seek knowledge of God.

Modern Interpretations and Psychology: While the concept of nous lost prominence in early modern philosophy, its implications have persisted in psychology and discussions about consciousness, intuition, and rationality. Some contemporary thinkers interpret nous as an intrinsic human capacity for insight, intuition, or holistic thinking, distinguishing it from the linear logic often associated with analytic reasoning.

Key Themes in the Philosophy of Nous

Intellect as the Bridge to Transcendence: Across its interpretations, nous is often seen as a faculty or principle that connects humans to a higher reality or the divine. Whether it is the realm of Platonic Forms, Aristotelian universals, or Neoplatonic divine ideas, nous is a means of transcending material reality and accessing something eternal and unchanging.

Unity and Order: As the organizing principle of the cosmos (especially in Anaxagoras’ view), nous represents unity, order, and coherence. It is a faculty that perceives relationships, patterns, and structures, implying that the cosmos itself is not random but inherently intelligible and purposeful.

Rational Intuition and Insight: Nous is often associated with a form of knowledge that is immediate, direct, and intuitive. This differs from discursive reasoning (logikos), which is step-by-step and analytical. Nous suggests a way of knowing that grasps the essence of things in an unmediated way, as a "light of reason."

Human Potential and Ethical Implications: Philosophers like Aristotle linked nous to the highest potential of human beings, as it allows one to pursue wisdom, virtue, and self-actualization. Nous implies a life led by reason, self-awareness, and contemplation, which has ethical dimensions in guiding human conduct toward the good.

Mystical Union and Contemplation: In Neoplatonism, nous is central to the mystical ascent of the soul, where contemplation leads to a direct encounter with the divine. This reflects a spiritual and philosophical ideal where knowledge and being are united, aligning human intellect with divine intellect.

Philosophical Implications of Nous

Epistemological Implications: The concept of nous raises questions about how we know what we know, especially regarding abstract or universal truths. Is there a faculty within us that connects us to eternal truths, or is all knowledge derived from sensory experience and logical deduction?

Metaphysical Significance: In many interpretations, nous is not just a human faculty but a fundamental cosmic principle, implying that reality itself has a rational structure. This idea has implications for metaphysics, suggesting that the universe is, at its core, intelligible and that human minds can resonate with this intelligibility.

Human Nature and Purpose: In Aristotelian and Neoplatonic frameworks, nous signifies the highest part of human nature and the path to true fulfillment. This has ethical implications, encouraging individuals to cultivate intellect, reason, and contemplation to achieve their potential.

Philosophy and Mysticism: The mystical dimensions of nous, especially in Neoplatonism, point to a convergence of philosophy and mysticism. Through nous, the soul is thought to access divine knowledge, suggesting that intellectual and spiritual life are not separate but interconnected paths to ultimate understanding.

[ffcrazy15]

There's this way of doing female-ness in Christianity that I call "pastel flower journal Christianity." I've got nothing against pastel flower journals per se, but for some reason people believe it's the end all and be all of female spirituality, and I think it's a real disservice towards young Christian women.

One of these days I'd like to start a prayer-and-reading group or something for young women, but there would be no floral themes or over-focus on how "God thinks you're beautiful even if the world doesn't" (a true statement, but it's wayyyyy too often the focus in women's spiritual reading). Instead we would be reading:

Seneca's Letters from a Stoic

Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning

Sheed's A Map of Life

Portions of Pieper's book on leisure

Kreeft's Three Philosophies of Life

Guardini's The Lord (or something similar)

Therese's Story of a Soul

and some select portions of the Nicomachean Ethics.

(Also they're all getting the porn talk. I don't know why we give the porn talk to young men but not young women. There's this idea that women don't use porn and they only need the talk about "guarding their heart." Bullshit. There's porn on the YA shelves of Barnes and Nobles and before that there were bodice rippers. Young women need the porn talk too.)

Every young woman needs to be getting a basic grounding in virtue ethics, logic, natural law, scholastic philosophy and Biblical hermeneutics if they're going to get by in today's spiritual landscape. Enough faffery and emotionalism in young women's spiritual education! Give them real food to chew on, not pasty sentimentalism!

[a-scary-lack-of-common-sense]

I cannot wait for this Stan to reconnect with his Ford.

I still haven't figured out HOW exactly they'll meet yet, but I do think that Ford would ATTACH himself to Stanley and talk his ears off forever when they eventually get comfortable :] and Stanley would listen because HOLY SHIT, THAT'S HIS BRO HE HASN'T SEEN FOR 40-ISH YEARS, HE MISSED HIS VOICE. Nonstop certified Yapper & Listener relationship <3

Stanley looks dead faced because of his ingrained poker face, but he's thouroughly enjoying it, even if sometimes he has no idea what the fuck Ford is saying. He never interrupts him though, since he knows people usually ignore or interrupt him mid-talk already. So sometimes Stan gets stuck in awkward situations where he has to leave or do stuff, but also doesn't have it in his heart to stop Ford and extract himself out of a (one-sided) conversation.

[purplink8]

My Lawlight headcanon is that-

L fell first:

But Light fell harder:

__________________________________________

Yeah yeah, I'm well aware that the first friend scene was a lie from L's side and a mind game from both sides- BUT look at Light's FACE (and no Light's a good actor but this split second of '...' + transparent eyes is not a performance imho)

He's genuinely stunned (translation: L broke him for a moment there lmao it's like, during that single moment, they're the only ones in the room!) BEFORE he realizes that they are playing a role here in front of the task force. As Ryuga and Light; which is what he tells Ryuk later:

(His eyes are hidden *clenches fists* Light is emotionally affected and does not want anybody to know that L got him. Again.

Except this time, he feels humiliated in a strange sort of way.

Despite everything, including the whole 'enemies till death do we part' thing they have going on? Light enjoyed his time with L (albeit not without the collateral damage of other people dying but I digress). He DID like playing tennis with Ryuga as he tells him. That part's not a lie! L being a good friend is not true though.

L does not want Light as his friend for real. He's bullshitting as always to catch Light off guard. This isn't new. But it. is. Personal (to Light, at least).

Only it shouldn't be! This is all part of their game, isn't it? Then why does Light feel a bit...disappointed due to it not being real? In an alternate universe, would he have liked truly being L's friend?

No! Of course not, that is a ridiculous line of thought! Additionally, just 2 chapters ago, Light was like:

Can you see the lawlight and yagamane parallels here? L intends to catch Kira!Light and poses an execution threat to Light while Misa means to date Light and poses some threats of her own:

Both L and Misa come on too strongly toward Light (one as an enemy and the other as a potential ally). Light merely wants to get rid of them both so as to achieve his keikaku with ease. While dealing with Misa, Light thinks, 'I'll be killing her eventually...I can't develop feelings. That's how most idiots screw up.'

Notice how similar this is when it comes to his dynamic with L as well? He has to kill the latter eventually too and his reaction (to when he's confronted with the fact that Rem *can* kill L at his immediate request before the fiasco of Misa getting arrested happens at least) is this below btw:

The guy is truly shocked at how easy it seems to kill someone as intelligent as L. Light does not smile or seem amused. He takes this (L's future death) very seriously (I think it's the first time he does this since his first two kills). I believe it's partly due to the begrudging respect he has toward the genius detective and partly because of the 'what-if's in his mind.

His eyes, blown wide, are unreadable except for the astonished look they show. It is a rare display of emotion we see from Light (I can't seem to pinpoint just what the emotion is tho) which is quite noteworthy imho.

________________________________________

...Wow I got carried away.

The point is! Light feels a little humiliated for letting his emotions get the better of him even if it was for just an instant during which he was gobsmacked by L's lie which he wished for it to be true.

Light can rationalize it all he wants but deep down, in his heart, he'd always know that there was a period of time (however small) that he not only fell for L's lie, but also secretly under LAYERS of repression actually just wanted to live in that world- the world where there was neither L nor Kira, just Ryuga and his friend Light.

That's wishful thinking and boy would Light hate this if he acknowledged for even a second that yes, he does want that.)

Again. Light 'Developing Feelings = Idiotic Screw ups' Yagami cannot afford to deceive himself that L, on some level, wants to befriend him as that may as well cost his life if he did. He cannot get distracted as that was most definitely one of L's intentions of calling him his 'first friend'.

He'll dutifully play along as he had anticipated it a while ago:

"I like this, Ryuga. If you want to be friends with me. I'll gladly hang out with you."

Light sure looks thrilled as hell to be role-playing as L's friend lmao- like he loves mind games, he revels in duplicity, he enjoys challenges that L adds to his life so is it any wonder that the combination of all is *chef's kiss* for Light? He is so so EXCITED to be hanging out with L face-to-face + looks forward to stabbing him in the back!!

Gotta love lawlight! </3 <3

[chasemywishes]

Regulus and Barty very casually have intellectual conversations at 2 am, in the middle of the night in their dorm, while Evan is snoring loudly in the background

[anghraine]

I know it's well-understood at this point that Kirk/Spock is much more of a nerd4nerd ship than a nerd/jock thing, but it's just been kind of percolating around my mind that both of them aren't just space nerds but space nerds who were personally bullied.

Like, 18-year-old Kirk was targeted by an older bully who combines "total asshole" with "the most grating man in existence":

MCCOY: Well, yeah, I'm beginning to feel a little bit picked-on, if that's what you mean. KIRK: I know the feeling very well. I had it at the Academy. An upperclassman there. One practical joke after another, and always on me. My own personal devil. A guy by the name of Finnegan. MCCOY: And you being the very serious young— KIRK: Serious? I'll make a confession, Bones. I was absolutely grim, which delighted Finnegan no end.

This was five years after Kirk survived a genocide, btw, and likely well before his stint as an Academy instructor known to be strict and demanding (which is the period the "stack of books with legs" description of him comes from). By the time he's 33, fifteen years after all this, it turns out one of his deepest fantasies is just beating the shit out of his bully, but only if he can do it According To The Rules (the replica of Finnegan sneers, "Always fight fair, don't you? True officer and gentleman, you").

Spock, meanwhile, is viciously targeted by his Vulcan peers for being biracial from at least age 5; he's described as being tormented by other boys by that age, and "at home nowhere except Starfleet." I think he'd have been 18 or 19 when he left for Starfleet and it's... the least bad of his options, but he seems to have spent his entire career among humans and being persistently subjected to raw racism and profound disrespect for his culture at every turn.

Like, their histories of being metaphorically shoved into lockers are not identical or anything, but I think it's interesting that they both have them.

[agoddamneddelight]

college fiddauthor but they’re women… do you see my vision

[multiversal-stims]

Reconstruct crime scenes. Make laws of physics work for the Law.

Day 6: Visual Calculus

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[messiahzzz]

it is completely fine to have different interpretations of a character, that is what the fun is all about. but if you honest to goodness believe that emmr*ch expresses any form of commitment phobia in regards to romantic love… then idk what to tell you

[eliotquillon]

you can’t just throw around the term the Other

[meowthiroth]

FINALLY finished this big hand-stitched intellect devourer after about 2 weeks! Little guy's SUPER huggable, stands at about 1.5ft tall & has poseable tendrils.

i'm slightly bitter we can't keep Us as a campsite pet so I figured this was the next best option :P

[elvhenmage]

when someone in dnd honor among thieves mentions something that’s also in bg3

[gifti3]

actually i liked takeru and ichika's dynamic more before they officially got together

[anghraine]

I've got a much longer post in drafts about it, but something I've noticed and find kind of odd is how there's so much insistence on the absolute episodic inconsistency of TOS, and writers knowing absolutely nothing about any previous episodes and the production team not really caring about consistency. It seems like almost any time there's a post about repeated themes or characteristics or whatnot in TOS, you'll get "that episode was written and produced entirely after the episode it might superficially seem consistent with or internally related to, but WELL AKSHUALLY..."

Like, for instance, any discussion of Kirk's (very consistent!) backstory and youthful personality in light of his canonical age will almost always get some insistence on how his age is completely up in the air until "The Deadly Years" establishes him as 34 in S2, there's no real consistency about his age in TOS, the internal timeline especially can't be considered significant to any S1 episodes or backstory as originally envisioned, etc. Yet in the S1 episode "Shore Leave," it's clearly stated that a) 15 years before the events of the episode, Finnegan was an older upperclassman who bullied Kirk, who was a "plebe" (first year) at the Academy at the time, and b) Finnegan was 20 then, nailing down Kirk's current age as no more than 33 or 34 (33 seems more probable, syncing exactly with him being 34 in the next season), and as far as I recall, none of the aired episodes contradict this or suggest otherwise.

A scene in "The Conscience of the King" would have suggested he's significantly older, but this was removed and the scene didn't make a lot of sense in the first place. Other backstory details in TOS are consistent with this as well, like the young Lieutenant Kirk being on his first deep-space assignment 11 years earlier c. S2 (aged 23 by the other episodes' timeline).

The production staff actively forced removal of details they considered inconsistent with his characterization and function (often rightly—sorry, Ellison, they were dicks about it but correct dicks). Details established in earlier episodes do recur—the existence of Sam Kirk, his wife, and sons and their good relationship with Kirk are established many episodes before "Operation: Annihilate!", Spock's painful, unexpressed love for his mother is introduced long before "Journey to Babel," Christine Chapel's crush on him is explicitly stated or clearly referenced in background shots over and over in S1 and S2 and is only really resolved as a thread in "Plato's Stepchildren," well into S3. Even specific events in earlier episodes are sometimes explicitly referenced in other episodes, like the Horta and Spock's desperate attempts to save Kirk in the Tholian web.

But honestly, I'm just kind of puzzled about why there seems so much investment in the idea that TOS is purely episodic and lacks all consistency from episode to episode, nothing ever recurs, it's never implicitly or explicitly calling back to other episodes, character arcs don't really happen, and so on.

[illuminatingfacts]

Sense, reason, and intellect are gifts we’re meant to use. - Galileo Galilei 🌟 A timeless call to think, question, and explore.

[harrenhalyuri]

mortred learning how to counter marazhai's antics and inflict maximum damage not by attacking back (he enjoys it after all) but by simply ignoring him or reacting with indifference is absolutely my favorite thing to have come out of this series

marazhai starts getting on his nerves he just goes