Plotinus on consciousness: A multi-layered approach

A mere handful of papers have been published on aspects either related to consciousness or soul-body dualism in Plotinus. However, no one to my knowledge has seen the connection between the two topics and has recognized that Plotinus advances a dualist theory of consciousness thirteen hundred years before Descartes. This is significant because of the widespread consensus that mind-body dualism and consciousness studies begin with Descartes. Plotinus' theory differs from modern and contemporary theories, however. The features of consciousness with which Plotinus is concerned are those that enable the soul to recover unity and return to the One. Plotinus recognizes several features with which modern theories are concerned, but holds that these features distract us from realizing our true selves and ascending to the intelligible world. Furthermore, Plotinus' view is multi-layered.;Plotinus uses a rich and complex terminology to explain each layer of consciousness. This is the main reason why his theory has been overlooked and misunderstood. The first layer is largely the work of sunaisthesis and sumpatheia. It provides us with awareness of our bodily parts and functions in the sensible world, and enables living things to unify themselves into structured and integrated wholes. The second layer is largely the work of antilepsis and parakolouthesis . It provides us with apprehension of our intentional activities (from sense-perception to intellect), apprehension of the activity of Intellect, and second-order consciousness in the sensible world. The third layer is largely the work of sunaisthesis and sunesis. It provides us with awareness in the intelligible world, integrates us fully with the Platonic Forms and intelligible being, and unites us with Intellect. This multi-layered approach towards consciousness offers a significantly richer account of 'the mental' than the one we have inherited from Descartes.