The Differences Between Mind and Intelligence in Aristotle and Descartes

What is Mind? What is intelligence? What are the distinction and relationship between these concepts? These universal questions about the mind and intelligence that determine human wholeness are important in the context of the historical evolution of the mind. Concerning these questions, the aim of this study is to reveal the differences, similarities, domains of use and the possible philosophical consequences of both concepts regarding human ethics especially through perspectives of Aristotle and Descartes. The word mind (logos), which is an important concept in ancient philosophy, had been grounded with all dimensions by Aristotle's mind-body unity. However, a new understanding of intelligence which reveals the principles of modern philosophy has emerged with Descartes. Degrading "mind" into "intelligence" is the most important outcome of Cartesian understanding. From Aristotle to Descartes, when historical and philosophical improvements are considered, mind and intelligence can be compared to the edges of a triangle. Mind constitutes the broad base of the triangle, while the narrowing top part refers to intelligence. While the wide base of the triangle represents the vast meaning of mind, the spiring intelligence both narrows the meaning of mind and rises up to take over the role of mind. Due to its elevation, it creates a sharper, more pointed and narrower angle. Considering this aspect, the prerequisite of revealing human qualities is not the Cartesian intelligence, but the Aristotelian mind