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# hêgemonikon

ἡγεμονικόν

## Pronunciation

hej-uh-MAH-nuh-kahn or heg-uh-MON-i-kuhn

## Definition

*Diogenes Laertius*<sup>*1*</sup>*&#x20;described the soul as having* eight parts:

1. The five senses (i.e., sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell)
2. The faculty of speech (i.e., communication)
3. The generative faculty (i.e., sexual reproduction)
4. The thinking part or rational faculty (h*êgemonikon)*

*The **hêgemonikon*** is the ruling faculty of the soul; it is the *integrative center* of all psychological activity and is responsible for cognition, judgment, assent, impulse, and reason. It controls our body and emotional responses. The hêgemonikon has four functions:

* Receives and processes impressions
* Houses rational structure in which interpretation and judgment occur
* Issues assent
* Generates impulses

**Impression** *(phantasia)*: This is a cognitively structured representation in the mind in the form of a proposition that can be true or false (i.e., "this is dangerous," or "that is beneficial").

**Reason** *(logos)*: In the context of the hêgemonikon, the use of reason is about whether an impression accurately represents reality. This usually occurs through interpretative judgment *(hypolepsis) and* evaluation *(krisis).* For example, is this impression true or false? Helpful or harmful? Appropriate or inappropriate? Good or bad?

**Assent** *(synkathesis)*: This is an active cognitive commitment or endorsement of the content of an impression. It converts an impression into belief. Assent is the seat of moral choice (of *prohairesis*).

**Impulse** *(hormê)*: This is a psychological or motivational force towards or away from an object (i.e., impression). In an animal sense, an animal sees food and gets an impulse towards it. In rational beings, it is the natural result of an assent.

#### References:

1. Diogenes Laertius, *Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 7.110*

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