aisthesis (αισθησις)

(Language: Greek)

Short Description: sensation, perception, as an opposite of intellection (noesis), understanding and pure thought; more loosely – any awareness

Long Description: sensation, perception, as an opposite of intellection ( noesis), understanding and pure thought; more loosely – any awareness; for Plato, some aistheseis have names, such as sights, sounds, smells, cold and heat, distress, pleasures, fears, but nameless aistheseis are countless ( Theaet.156b); for Plotinus, perceptions in this world are dim intellections ( noeseis), and intellections in the noetic world are vived perceptions; Philo of Alexandria postulates an Idea of aisthesis, along with an Idea of nous, in the Intellect of God ( Leg.Alleg.I.21-27).

Sources: The Golden Chain: An Anthology of Platonic and Pythagorean Philosophy, by Dr. Algis Uždavinys