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Nous
Introduction References & Edit History
Quick Facts
Greek:
“mind” or “intellect”
Key People:
Aristotle
Anaxagoras
Related Topics:
philosophy
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Nous

Greek philosophy
Also known as: noos
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

Nous, in philosophy, the faculty of intellectual apprehension and of intuitive thought. Used in a narrower sense, it is distinguished from discursive thought and applies to the apprehension of eternal intelligible substances and first principles. It is sometimes identified with the highest or divine intellect.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.