On the Parts of the Soul · §4 · John of Damascus

Definitions of the soul's remaining powers

Click or tap any sentence to jump there. The side buttons skip a paragraph.

John of Damascus is defining the five powers of the soul one by one, having just defined the intellect and now defining discursive thought, opinion, imagination, and sense perception.

Discursive thought is a power of the soul by which it can know matters through a syllogism. It is called discursive thought because it opens a certain way. Opinion is a power of the soul by which it knows matters without a cause. Imagination is a power of the non-rational soul. Sense perception is a power of the soul capable of apprehending material things.

Greek

∆ιάνοιά ἐστι δύναμις τῆς ψυχῆς, καθ' ἣν μετὰ συλλογισμοῦ δύναται γινώσκειν τὰ πράγματα· διὸ καὶ λέγεται διάνοια, παρὰ τὸ ὁδόν

τινα διανοίγειν. ∆όξα ἐστὶ δύναμις τῆς ψυχῆς, καθ' ἣν ἄνευ αἰτίας γινώσκει τὸ πράγματα. Φαντασία δύναμίς ἐστι τῆς ἀλόγου ψυχῆς. Αἴσθησίς ἐστι δύναμις τῆς ψυχῆς, ἀντιληπτικὴ τῶν ὑλῶν.

About this text

John of Damascus's short outline of the soul: its three parts, the four virtues, three kinds of love, and five powers from intellect to sense.

John of Damascus wrote this brief doctrinal summary of the soul's parts, virtues, law, and faculties. It appears to have been compiled for instruction or reference rather than addressed to a particular person.

The treatise presents the soul as having three parts: the appetitive part, the spirited part, and the rational part. The law is described as threefold: natural, written, and spiritual in grace.

The soul also has five powers: intellect, discursive thought, opinion, imagination, and sense perception.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 94-96; De partibus animae (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.