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Faculties of the Soul in Gnosis

Like philosophers, gnostics, too, conceive of the immaterial soul as possessing a number of faculties by which it performs its acts. Considering the significance of perception, the most important of all faculties discussed in gnosis are perceptual faculties. Although in gnosis, unlike that in philosophy, the issues related to the soul, its faculties and the nature of perception have not been systematically compiled and discussed, there are certain statements in the related books indicating the union of the knower and the known. From among perceptual faculties, imagination and estimation are of particular importance in gnosis, since they are the origins the soulʹs intuitions and creativities. Like philosophers, gnostics, too, believe, that the rational faculty distinguishes man from other animals; however, the major issues in this regard for gnostics are inspiration, unveiling and intuition, which are obtained through something other than the intellect and intellection.