Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Anaxagoras and Nous
8
Flashcards
0/8
Nous
In Anaxagoras' cosmology, Nous is a unique, eternal, and intelligent force responsible for the ordered cosmos. It initiated the cosmic rotation, separating mixed elements and organized the universe with purpose and intelligence.
Primordial Mixture
Anaxagoras posited that originally, all ingredients of the universe were mixed together in a homogenous mass. The action of Nous caused the separation of the ingredients, leading to the diversity of objects and elements in the world.
Cosmic Rotation
Anaxagoras theorized that Nous initiated a cosmic rotation which caused the primordial mixture of all substances to start separating due to centrifugal force. This process led to the segregation of elements and ultimately the formation of stars, planets, and all matter.
Anaxagoras
Anaxagoras was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who introduced the concept of Nous (Mind) as an ordering principle. He believed that everything was composed of infinitely divisible particles and that Nous set the cosmos in motion, initiating a cosmic rotation leading to the formation of the worlds.
Infinite Divisibility
According to Anaxagoras, all matter was composed of tiny particles that could be divided infinitely. He surmised that within these particles, or 'seeds', there existed a portion of everything, which allowed for the mixture and transformation of all matter.
Cosmogony
Anaxagoras' cosmogony describes how the universe came into being through the influence of Nous. He posited an evolution from a state of chaos (due to the homogeneous mixture) to an ordered cosmos where elements are in motion and segregated.
Purpose and Intelligence
Anaxagoras believed that the cosmos is organized with purpose and intelligence, which is attributed to the role of Nous. It is a rational and orderly force unlike the randomness of the atomic theory of Democritus.
Teleology
Teleology in Anaxagoras' thought refers to the purposeful and intelligent design behind the order of the cosmos. Thanks to Nous, the universe is not a product of chance but of an intelligent guiding principle.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.