Analiza i Egzystencja
Rational vs. Mystical Readings of Aristotle’s Nous Poietikos Introduction to the Subject and Overview of Central Positions
DOI: 10.18276/aie.2017.39-02
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| ISSN: | 1734-9923 |
| eISSN: | 2300-7621 |
| Authors: |
Sonia
Kamińska
Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Instytut Filozofii |
| Keywords: | nous poietikos mystical and rational readings Aristotle psychology God/Deity immortality intellectual soul unio mystica |
| Issue / book publication date: | 2017 |
| Page range: | 17 (19-35) |
| OAI-PMH: | Metadata |
 
 
 
| |
Abstract
In my paper, I will give an overview of the readings of nous poietikos, the active
intellect from De Anima. Sadly, Aristotle describes it in a cryptic way, which resulted
in many different theories. I will order them by introducing a division into “mystical”
and “rational”. The mystical ones are rooted in a view that nous poietikos does not
belong to particular human beings, but is identical with Deity or a divine sphere.
According to the rational readings it is our cognitive tool and through its activity
we can learn about the Deity and emulate it. The mystics are: Eudemus, Avicenna,
Averroes, from the newer philosophers E. Zeller and from the contemporary ones
– V. Caston. The rationalists are: Theophrastus, Thomas Aquinas, the XIXth century
Aristotelian revival and from the contemporary thinkers – A. Kosman.
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