On the nature of intellect

[Madsaac]

Regardless how consciousness developed, mind has certain features that can't be explained in materialistic terms. Some operations are immaterial.

I think its important to know evolution developed our consciousness because it was at that point we were then able know truths, concepts and interpret reality to survive and thrive.

So, our consciousness is part of evolution, our physical being therefore the minds 'unexplainable' features are a good chance of being part of nature.

How might you explain these certain 'unexplainable' features?

 

[Madsaac]

he goal of this thread is to understand the nature of the intellect.
So far, we have that:
the intellect is part of the human soul (used here as a synonym for the human mind)the intellect is associated with the logistikon (reason) or cognitive categoryhumans have intellect and other life forms do not (unclear why that is thought to be the case)the forms themselves are universal, immaterial, extramental, and known via the intellect.But how does Plato deduce that the intellect (part of the human mind) is immaterial and immortal?

Can't we just 'dumb' it down a bit and say that our intellect is simply part of human's evolution. It's simply part of nature.

And all this pondering is just an example of how evolved our brain has become. And remember Plato didn't know about evolution

All this talk about 'what's a table?' is irrelevant because it simply our natural brain doing what it does because of nature

 

[PearlSeeker]

The idea of a certain kind of intelligence (yet to be defined), as a primary emanation is an ancient cosmological concept, common to many ancient societies, even predating Greece.

Interesting. Can you expand on this? I thought this was a later concept - neoplatonism.

If one really wants to assign a faculty to "this intelligence", then perhaps, the heart will be more closer to truth than the intellect. But again, then we would have to define what the heart is. They certainly don't mean the fleshy organ.

Greek nous is associated with immediate experience/intuition - "organ" of contemplation. As such it's the eye of the heart.

 

[whoamI?]

I thought this was a later concept - neoplatonism.

Maybe you're right. Perhaps I am mixed up in its historicity.

 

[Ostronomos]

It is most fitting to describe the mind as immaterial. Owing to the fact that mind can expand beyond the skull and into the external world, thereby influencing people as well as media such as television and radio. Hence its elusive nature.

 

[Ostronomos]

Furthermore, Quantum physics holds the key to comprehending the hard problem of consciousness because the mind is Quantum, despite what naysayers might say.