Quote by Anaxagoras: “Mind (Nous) is infinite and self‑ruled, and is mixed with nothing.”

Anaxagoras introduced the concept of Nous (Mind or Intellect) as the governing force, separate from matter, that initiated and ordered the universe. This powerful entity is portrayed as an independent, all-knowing intelligence responsible for bringing structure and motion to the initial chaos of infinitely mixed particles.

Anaxagoras was the first to propose a distinct cosmic intelligence. He attributed the separation and arrangement of the primordial mixture to Nous, which distinguished him from other materialist pre-Socratics and influenced Plato and Aristotle.

Greek philosopher from Clazomenae who lived approximately 500–428 BCE and was the first philosopher to settle in Athens. He proposed that the cosmos was organized by a divine mind (nous) and that all matter was originally mixed together before being differentiated. He was put on trial in Athens for impiety and forced into exile.