Γνωστικῶς and / or ὑλικῶς

The paper aims to show that Philoponus’ theory of sense-perception does not fit in with the spiritualist claim that the sensory process does not involve an extra material change in the sense-organ. Both the specific sense-organs (like the vitreous liquid and choroid or corneal membrane in the eyes) and the primary sense-organ (like the optic pneuma) contract or expand in the perceptual process. On the other hand, the literalist claim needs to be modified as well since only the tactile sense-organ (flesh) takes on the relevant qualities. Contraction or expansion in the sense-organ is triggered, not by physical changes in the medium, but by the formal activities arising from the perceptible objects: colours make the visual sense-organ contract or expand. At the level of sense-organs, the physiological process underlying sense-perception has three stages. The change in specific sense-organ will be transmitted to the primary sense-organ of the particular sense (optic/acoustic pneuma), and then reaches the common sense-organ, the pneuma. The primary sense-organs are spatially distinguishable parts of the common sense-organ which is otherwise homogeneous, not allowing for qualitative differences. The homogeneity of the pneuma establishes the unity of sense-perception at the level of physiological processes

Biology · Common sense · Epistemology · Perception · Sense (electronics · Sense organ · Anatomy · Chemistry · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Communication · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Neuroscience · Philosophy · Psychology

• Philosophy and Medicine in John Philoponus' Commentary on Aristotle's "De Anima"

  Open Access•Robert B Todd•Dumbarton Oaks Papers•1984

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• Neoplatonic Elements in the De Anima Commentaries1

  Henry Blumenthal, H J Blumenthal•Phronesis•1976

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