TERM

ψυχή

psychē
RU

душа

EN

soul

§ IDefinition

The soul — for the Stoics a warm TERMpneuma pervading the body and forming with it a single living being. In the orthodox scheme the soul has eight parts: the TERMruling part plus the five senses, the faculty of speech, and the generative faculty. ψυχή is wider than TERMἡγεμονικόν: the latter is only its highest, rational part. The two words are therefore not interchangeable — where Marcus writes ψυχή he means the soul as a whole (often addressing it in the second person: ὦ ψυχή), not specifically the rational centre.

§ IISource

SVF II 826–833 (the eight-part soul); DL VII 110, 156–157; LS 53. In Marcus: Med. 2.6; 2.16; 3.16; 05-05 (many powers of the soul are in your control, not in others' praise); 05-11; 05-19 (things do not enter the soul; the soul troubles itself); 05-26 (the ruling part of the soul is unmoved by the flesh); 05-33 (guard the soul's ruling part before the body); 05-37 (a good lot — good turns of the soul, τροπαὶ ψυχῆς); 06-14 (the grades of soul — ἕξις/φύσις/ψυχή/λόγος; to value the rational-social soul); 06-29 (shameful for the soul to give way before the body); 06-32 (I am of a little body and a soul; to the body all is indifferent, to the mind what is not its activity); 06-52 (hold no opinion — the soul (ψυχή) will not be stirred up); 06-53 (get inside the soul of the speaker); 08-28 (pain does not ascend into the ψυχή unless it judges it an evil); 08-45 (no external is worth having the ψυχή become "worse than itself"); 08-51 (let the ψυχή neither contract nor burst out; it is an undefilable spring); 09-08 (μία νοερὰ ψυχή — one intelligent soul parcelled among rational beings); the diminutive ψυχάριον ("little soul") at 04-41 (a quotation of Epictetus) and 07-16 (the ψυχάριον — that which fears, grieves, and judges); 07-66 (what ψυχή Socrates had — the one measure, not the glory); 10-01 (ὦ ψυχή — the second and more extended of the two addresses to one's own soul, paired with 02-06: will you ever be good, simple, one and naked?); 10-36 (in an easy death the ψυχάριον "slips free" — ἐξειλεῖται — of the body; the diminutive here is of scale, not contempt, cf. 09-03); 11-01 (Τὰ ἴδια τῆς λογικῆς ψυχῆς — an inventory of its distinguishing properties: it sees and makes itself, harvests its own fruit, is complete at any point); 11-03 (ψυχὴ ἡ ἕτοιμος — the "ready" soul, and the three equally admissible outcomes for it); 11-12 (Σφαῖρα ψυχῆς αὐτοειδής — a nominal definition with no main verb: the soul as a sphere true to its own form, spoilt in four ways and repaired by no action at all but by shining); 11-16 (δύναμις αὕτη ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ — the power "to live in the finest way" is located in the soul, not in circumstances); 11-39 (the Socratic cross-examination: do you want the ψυχαί of rational beings — sound or worthless? — "we have them"; then why do you quarrel?). In Book XII — 12-07 (καὶ σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ: the question of the state of both at the hour death overtakes one). And 12-28 (the argument from analogy: I have not seen my own soul either — and yet I honour it); 12-29 (ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς); 12-30 (μία ψυχή, κἂν φύσεσι διείργηται μυρίαις); 12-32 (πόστον τῆς ὅλης ψυχῆς;). In Books I–IV: 04-03 (to withdraw εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν, into the retreat within), 04-21 (where souls go after death), 04-29, 04-40.

§ IIINotes

Marcus often addresses his own soul as an interlocutor (02-06: "ὕβριζε, ὕβριζε σεαυτήν, ὦ ψυχή"; Med. 05-16; 10.1) — a rhetorical move in which the "I" detaches itself from the ψυχή in order to admonish it. When it is precisely the rational centre that forms judgments and gives assent that is meant, Marcus uses the narrower TERMἡγεμονικόν / TERMνοῦς / δαίμων; ψυχή is the general term for the animating principle.

TERM

ψυχή

psychē
RU

душа

EN

soul

Appears in37
Related3
Sections3

§ IDefinition

The soul — for the Stoics a warm TERMpneuma pervading the body and forming with it a single living being. In the orthodox scheme the soul has eight parts: the TERMruling part plus the five senses, the faculty of speech, and the generative faculty. ψυχή is wider than TERMἡγεμονικόν: the latter is only its highest, rational part. The two words are therefore not interchangeable — where Marcus writes ψυχή he means the soul as a whole (often addressing it in the second person: ὦ ψυχή), not specifically the rational centre.

§ IISource

SVF II 826–833 (the eight-part soul); DL VII 110, 156–157; LS 53. In Marcus: Med. 2.6; 2.16; 3.16; 05-05 (many powers of the soul are in your control, not in others' praise); 05-11; 05-19 (things do not enter the soul; the soul troubles itself); 05-26 (the ruling part of the soul is unmoved by the flesh); 05-33 (guard the soul's ruling part before the body); 05-37 (a good lot — good turns of the soul, τροπαὶ ψυχῆς); 06-14 (the grades of soul — ἕξις/φύσις/ψυχή/λόγος; to value the rational-social soul); 06-29 (shameful for the soul to give way before the body); 06-32 (I am of a little body and a soul; to the body all is indifferent, to the mind what is not its activity); 06-52 (hold no opinion — the soul (ψυχή) will not be stirred up); 06-53 (get inside the soul of the speaker); 08-28 (pain does not ascend into the ψυχή unless it judges it an evil); 08-45 (no external is worth having the ψυχή become "worse than itself"); 08-51 (let the ψυχή neither contract nor burst out; it is an undefilable spring); 09-08 (μία νοερὰ ψυχή — one intelligent soul parcelled among rational beings); the diminutive ψυχάριον ("little soul") at 04-41 (a quotation of Epictetus) and 07-16 (the ψυχάριον — that which fears, grieves, and judges); 07-66 (what ψυχή Socrates had — the one measure, not the glory); 10-01 (ὦ ψυχή — the second and more extended of the two addresses to one's own soul, paired with 02-06: will you ever be good, simple, one and naked?); 10-36 (in an easy death the ψυχάριον "slips free" — ἐξειλεῖται — of the body; the diminutive here is of scale, not contempt, cf. 09-03); 11-01 (Τὰ ἴδια τῆς λογικῆς ψυχῆς — an inventory of its distinguishing properties: it sees and makes itself, harvests its own fruit, is complete at any point); 11-03 (ψυχὴ ἡ ἕτοιμος — the "ready" soul, and the three equally admissible outcomes for it); 11-12 (Σφαῖρα ψυχῆς αὐτοειδής — a nominal definition with no main verb: the soul as a sphere true to its own form, spoilt in four ways and repaired by no action at all but by shining); 11-16 (δύναμις αὕτη ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ — the power "to live in the finest way" is located in the soul, not in circumstances); 11-39 (the Socratic cross-examination: do you want the ψυχαί of rational beings — sound or worthless? — "we have them"; then why do you quarrel?). In Book XII — 12-07 (καὶ σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ: the question of the state of both at the hour death overtakes one). And 12-28 (the argument from analogy: I have not seen my own soul either — and yet I honour it); 12-29 (ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς); 12-30 (μία ψυχή, κἂν φύσεσι διείργηται μυρίαις); 12-32 (πόστον τῆς ὅλης ψυχῆς;). In Books I–IV: 04-03 (to withdraw εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν, into the retreat within), 04-21 (where souls go after death), 04-29, 04-40.

§ IIINotes

Marcus often addresses his own soul as an interlocutor (02-06: "ὕβριζε, ὕβριζε σεαυτήν, ὦ ψυχή"; Med. 05-16; 10.1) — a rhetorical move in which the "I" detaches itself from the ψυχή in order to admonish it. When it is precisely the rational centre that forms judgments and gives assent that is meant, Marcus uses the narrower TERMἡγεμονικόν / TERMνοῦς / δαίμων; ψυχή is the general term for the animating principle.

Related3
Appears in37
2.6Do wrong to thyself, do wrong to thyself, my soul; but thou wilt no longer have the opportunity of honouring thyself. Every man's life is sufficient.​ But thine…2.8Through not observing what is in the mind of another a man has seldom been seen to be unhappy; but those who do not observe the movements of their own minds mus…4.3Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogethe…4.21If souls continue to exist, how does the air contain them from eternity? But how does the earth contain the bodies of those who have been buried from time so re…4.29If he is a stranger to the universe who does not know what is in it, no less is he a stranger who does not know what is going on in it. He is a runaway, who fli…4.40Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the percepti…4.41Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say. (Long)5.5Thou sayest, Men cannot admire the sharpness of thy wits.- Be it so: but there are many other things of which thou canst not say, I am not formed for them by na…5.11For what purpose then am I now using my soul? On every occasion I must ask myself this question, and inquire, what have I now in this part of me which they call…5.16Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then with a continuous series of su…5.19Things themselves touch not the soul, not in the least degree; nor have they admission to the soul, nor can they turn or move the soul: but the soul turns and m…5.26Let the part of thy soul which leads and governs be undisturbed by the movements in the flesh, whether of pleasure or of pain; and let it not unite with them, b…5.33Soon, very soon, thou wilt be ashes, or a skeleton, and either a name or not even a name; but name is sound and echo. And the things which are much valued in li…5.37I was once a fortunate man, but I lost it, I know not how. But fortunate means that a man has assigned to himself a good fortune: and a good fortune is good dis…6.14Most of the things which the multitude admire are referred to objects of the most general kind, those which are held together by cohesion or natural organizatio…6.29It is a shame for the soul to be first to give way in this life, when thy body does not give way. (Long)6.32I consist of a little body and a soul. Now to this little body all things are indifferent, for it is not able to perceive differences. But to the understanding …6.52It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul; for things themselves have no natural power to form our judgements. (…6.53Accustom thyself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as it is possible, be in the speaker's mind. (Long)7.16The ruling faculty does not disturb itself; I mean, does not frighten itself or cause itself pain. But if any one else can frighten or pain it, let him do so. F…7.66How do we know if Telauges​ was not superior in character to Socrates? For it is not enough that Socrates died a more noble death, and disputed more skilfully w…8.28Pain is either an evil to the body- then let the body say what it thinks of it- or to the soul; but it is in the power of the soul to maintain its own serenity …8.45Take me and cast me where thou wilt; for there I shall keep my divine part tranquil, that is, content, if it can feel and act conformably to its proper constitu…8.51Neither in thy actions be sluggish nor in thy conversation without method, nor wandering in thy thoughts, nor let there be in thy soul inward contention nor ext…9.8Among the animals which have not reason one life is distributed; but among reasonable animals one intelligent soul is distributed: just as there is one earth of…10.1Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee? Wilt thou never enjoy an affectionate an…10.36There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen. Suppose that he was a good and w…11.1These are the properties of the rational soul: it sees itself, analyses itself, and makes itself such as it chooses; the fruit which it bears itself enjoys—for …11.3What a soul that is which is ready, if at any moment it must be separated from the body, and ready either to be extinguished or dispersed or continue to exist; …11.12The spherical form of the soul maintains its figure when it is neither extended towards any object, nor contracted inwards, nor dispersed, nor sinks down, but i…11.16As to living in the best way, this power is in the soul, if it be indifferent to things which are indifferent. And it will be indifferent, if it looks on each o…11.39Socrates used to say, What do you want, souls of rational men or irrational?—Souls of rational men.—Of what rational men, sound or unsound?—Sound.—Why then do y…12.7Consider in what condition both in body and soul a man should be when he is overtaken by death; and consider the shortness of life, the boundless abyss of time …12.28To those who ask, Where hast thou seen the gods, or how dost thou comprehend that they exist and so worshippest them, I answer, in the first place, they may be …12.29The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice an…12.30There is one light of the sun, though it is interrupted by walls, mountains, and other things infinite. There is one common substance, though it is distributed …12.32How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal! And how small a part of the w…
CopyPassage