World Philosophy Group

Anaxagoras, a prominent figure in ancient Greek philosophy, left an indelible mark on the world of ideas.One of the most fascinating aspects of Anaxagoras’ philosophy is his concept of Mind (or, as he named it, “nous”) as the driving force behind motion. In an era marked by limited understanding of the physical world, Anaxagoras presented a bold proposition: that motion was not inherent in nature but rather instigated by an independent force which he described as Mind.  This radical idea challenged the prevailing notion that force and motion in the universe originated out of nothing.  Common sense tells us that when one moves different parts of the body, it’s the “mind” that makes this occur; what better way to explain the origin of motion in the universe, then, which otherwise could not be understood?  Anaxagoras’ concept of Mind did not extend beyond the realm of the universe’s original motion. He believed that the universe began as a homogeneous mixture of all things, a state of primordial chaos. Mind set to motion this chaos, and from there, the natural forces of physics took over and gave rise to the diverse and ordered world we observe. This limited role of Mind as described by Anaxagoras frustrated later philosophers (such as Aristotle), particularly those who championed the role of reason and intelligence in shaping the universe. They complained that Anaxagoras’ views didn’t go far enough, and they proceeded to develop their own ideas which were based on Mind’s supposed intelligent and purposeful ordering of the universe. In this case, Anaxagoras developed views that are far closer to our modern perspective than did Aristotle. Anaxagoras also developed the original notion that it’s not the large brain which differentiates the human being  from other animals, but rather the hands.  This emphasis on the importance of hands (which, it should be remembered, provide humans with their  tool-using capabilities) rather than high-level intelligence differs so starkly from other philosophers’ views that it must be considered one of Anaxagoras’ most original contributions. While Anaxagoras’ theories were not always consistent with modern views, their ingenuity, along with their Ionian emphasis on logical and physical explanations, gave rise to alternative scientific paradigms which led to progress in both metaphysics and science.  For example, Anaxagoras’ views about the heterogeneous nature of basic substance offered an advance on earlier monistic views and undoubtedly led to the progress in science by both Empedocles and Democritus.  Furthermore, Anaxagoras,with his embrace of the concept of Mind as a driving force in the universe, ultimately (thanks to Aristotle’s elaboration of this idea) had more influence on Christian theology than did any other thinker of ancient times.