summa-contra-gentiles

CHAPTER LXXIII 193
all that is or has been understood by anyone whatsoever :
which is clearly false.
To this the aforesaid Commentator replies by saying that
we do not understand by the possible intellect, except forasmuch
as i t is in contact with us through our phantasms.
And since phantasms are not the same IrT all, nor~ar"range3
in the same way, neither is whatever one person understands,
understood by another. Also this reply would seem
to accord with what has been stated above. Because, even \
if the possible intellect is not one, we do not understand the
things the species of which are in the possible intellect,
/
without the presence of phantasms disposed for that I
purpose.
~"-^
That this reply cannot wholly avoid the difficulty,
is
proved thus. When the possible intellect has been made
actual by the reception of the intelligible species, it can act
of itself, as Aristotle says {sDe Anima).^ Hence we observ^e
that when we have once received knowledge of a thing, it is
in our power to consider it again at will. Nor are we
hindered on account of :
phantasms because it is in our
power to formj)hantasms ada£ted to the consideration that
we wish to make unless ; perchance there be an obstacle on
the part of the organ to which the phantasm appertains, as
happens in madmen and those suffering from lethargy, who
cannot freely exercise their imagination and memory. For
this reason Aristotle says (8 Phys.y that one who already
has the habit of science, although he be considering potentially,
needs no mover to reduce him from potentiality to
act, except one that removes an obstacle ;
but is able at will
to proceed to actual consideration. Now if the intelligible
species of all sciences be in the possible intellect, which we
must needs admit if it be one and eternal, the intellect will
need phantasms in the same way as one who already has
science needs them in order to consider according to that
science, which also it cannot do without phantasms. Since
then every man understands by the possible intellect forasmuch
as it is reduced to act by the intelligible species^ every
I
* iv. 6.
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