Anthropological Function of Pneuma from the Perspective of Later Stoics
Subject Areas : Geneology of philosophical schools and IdeasNegar Ezhari Jenekanloo 1 , Majid Yarian Koupaei 2 , Raham Sharaf 3
1 - PhD candidate of Islamic Philosophy and Kalam, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
Keywords: Pneuma, Soul, Body, Logos, Cosmos, Later Stoics,
Abstract :
The present paper aims to investigate the mediating role of pneuma in explaining the soul-body relation from the Stoics’ perspective. Unlike dualistic philosophical traditions, the Stoics introduced pneuma as a force that simultaneously possesses both physical and rational dimensions and acts as a connecting element between these two realms. In Stoic philosophy, this component is not merely a biological concept, but the most fundamental explanatory principle for the coherence of a living organism, the mechanism of sensory perception, and rational actions. Here, the authors demonstrate that pneuma, as an active and dynamic substance permeating the entire world, plays three key roles in the Stoic philosophical system: first, it is a force that maintains the body’s structure and coherence and enables vital activities; second, it is a mediator between the soul and the body, forming a structure of “mixtures”; third, at the metaphysical level, it is linked to the Logos (cosmic reason) and plays a role in creating the harmony between the human soul and the entire cosmos. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to identify the role of pneuma as a mediator for the fundamental mechanism in explaining the nature and functions of the physical and rational dimensions of humans by analyzing some classical Stoic texts (with reference to the views of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius). By resorting to studies on the relationship between pneuma and concepts such as Logos and cosmic normativity, the authors try to show that this element not only plays a role in explaining the biological and cognitive functions of the individual but also, at a broader level, holds a fundamental position in the Stoic philosophical system as a force that ensures cosmic order and harmony.
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