Plotinus on Consciousness

Plotinus is the first Greek philosopher to hold a systematic theory of consciousness. The key feature of his theory is that it involves multiple layers of experience: different layers of consciousness occur in different levels of self. This layering of higher modes of consciousness on lower ones provides human beings with a rich experiential world, and enables human beings to draw on their own experience to investigate their true self and the nature of reality. This involves a robust notion of subjectivity. However, it is a notion of subjectivity that is unique to Plotinus, and remarkably different from the Post-Cartesian tradition. Behind the plurality of terms Plotinus uses to express consciousness, and behind the plurality of entities to which Plotinus attributes consciousness (such as the divine souls and the hypostases), lies a theory of human consciousness. It is a Platonist theory shaped by engagement with rival schools of ancient thought. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title page 5 Copyright information 6 Dedication 7 Table of contents 9 Acknowledgments 11 Notes on the Text 13 Introduction 15 The Structure of the Book 18 Chapter 1 Self 20 1.1 Levels of Selfhood 21 1.2 True Self as Intellect 24 1.3 Individuation of Intellect 31 1.4 Subjectivity 49 Chapter 2 Consciousness Terms 54 Chapter 3 First Layer: The Soul-Trace 59 3.1 The Qualified Body 60 3.2 Unification of the Qualified Body 63 3.3 Animal Awareness 77 Chapter 4 Second Layer: The Lower Soul 81 4.1 The Role of the Imagination 82 4.2 Apprehension of Pleasures and Pains 89 4.3 Apprehension of Sense-Perception 99 4.3.1 Sense-Organs Are in Sympathy with External Objects 103 4.3.2 Sense-Perceptions Are Judgments 104 4.3.3 Soul's Power of Perception Is of Internal Images 107 4.4 Apprehension of Thought 113 4.4.1 The Meaning of Logos in IV.3.30 116 4.4.2 The Relation between Intellect and Discursive Reasoning 117 4.4.3 The Relationship between Discursive Reasoning and Language 118 4.5 Consciousness of Thought 126 Chapter 5 Third Layer: The Higher Soul 133 5.1 Intellect as Primary Thinker 134 5.2 Awareness in the Formation of Intellect 137 5.3 Awareness in Self-Intellection 143 5.4 Awareness in Human Intellection 157 5.5 The One's Awareness 163 Chapter 6 Self-Determination 166 6.1 Providence, Destiny, and Human Action 170 6.2 Self-Determination 180 Chapter 7 Conclusion 190 Appendix 193 Bibliography 207 Modern Editions and Translations of the Enneads 207 Secondary Literature 207 General Index 217 Index Locorum 222 Cover -- Half-title -- Title page -- Copyright information -- Dedication -- Table of contents -- Acknowledgments -- Notes on the Text -- Introduction -- The Structure of the Book -- Chapter 1 Self -- 1.1 Levels of Selfhood -- 1.2 True Self as Intellect -- 1.3 Individuation of Intellect -- 1.4 Subjectivity -- Chapter 2 Consciousness Terms -- Chapter 3 First Layer: The Soul-Trace -- 3.1 The Qualified Body -- 3.2 Unification of the Qualified Body -- 3.3 Animal Awareness -- Chapter 4 Second Layer: The Lower Soul -- 4.1 The Role of the Imagination -- 4.2 Apprehension of Pleasures and Pains -- 4.3 Apprehension of Sense-Perception -- 4.3.1 Sense-Organs Are in Sympathy with External Objects -- 4.3.2 Sense-Perceptions Are Judgments -- 4.3.3 Soul's Power of Perception Is of Internal Images -- 4.4 Apprehension of Thought -- 4.4.1 The Meaning of Logos in IV. 3.30 -- 4.4.2 The Relation between Intellect and Discursive Reasoning -- 4.4.3 The Relationship between Discursive Reasoning and Language -- 4.5 Consciousness of Thought -- Chapter 5 Third Layer: The Higher Soul -- 5.1 Intellect as Primary Thinker -- 5.2 Awareness in the Formation of Intellect -- 5.3 Awareness in Self-Intellection -- 5.4 Awareness in Human Intellection -- 5.5 The One's Awareness -- Chapter 6 Self-Determination -- 6.1 Providence, Destiny, and Human Action -- 6.2 Self-Determination -- Chapter 7 Conclusion -- Appendix -- Bibliography -- Modern Editions and Translations of the Enneads -- Secondary Literature -- General Index -- Index Locorum Plotinus is the first Greek philosopher to hold a systematic theory of consciousness. The key feature of his theory is that it involves multiple layers of experience: different layers of consciouness occur in different levels of self. This layering of higher modes of consciousness on lower ones provides human beings with a rich experiential world and enables them to draw on their own experience to investigate their true self and the nature of reality. This involves a robust notion of subjectivity. However, it is a notion of subjectivity that is unique to Plotinus, and remarkably different from the post-Carthesian tradition. Behind the plurality of terms Plotinus uses to express consciousness, and behind the plurality of entities to which Plotinus attributes consciousness (such as the divine souls and the hypostases), lies a theory of human consciousness. It is a Platonist theory shaped by engagement with rival schools of ancient thought