Sin death and beyond

SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN
Andrew Nimmo of Centre for Thomistic Studies, Australia gives the following description
regarding souls of vegetables and animals
(http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm)
Vegetative Soul
The vegetative soul is that which gives life to a plant. It is the lowest soul but not the
lowest substantial form. The lowest substantial forms, which are not souls, are those of
non-living things. The distance between vegetative life and non-living creation is infinite
because it is the difference between be and be-not (and there is no middle between
these). The vegetative soul is therefore infinitely superior to the substantial forms of
inanimate things (e.g. water, gold, nitrogen). The vegetative soul is the root or radical
principle of the plant's powers and acts: nutrition, growth and generation. The vegetative
soul is formally one i.e. is one soul and virtually one i.e. has the power of one soul. The
vegetative soul is intrinsically dependent on matter and returns to the potency of matter
when the body fails.
Sensitive Soul
The sensitive soul is that which gives life to a brute (animal). The sensitive soul is infinitely
superior to the vegetative soul because it confers on the animal the ability to know and
desire. Animals are knowers and plants are non-knowers - this is the difference between
be and be-not, an infinite gulf.
The sensitive soul is the root or radical principle of the animal's powers and acts:
vegetative functions, senses and sensations, sense appetites and passions. The sensitive
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