summa-contra-gentiles

CHAPTER LXXVIII 219
possible and active intellects, begins here to describe the
intellect in act, when he says that actual knowledge
is the
same as the thing actually known.
^
Afterwards he says
: But that which is in potentiality,
in point of time, precedes in one subject, but not altogether
in point of time. Which distinction between f>otentiality
and act is
employed by him in several places : namely that
act is naturally prior to potentiality, but that in point of
time, potentiality precedes act in one and the same subject
that is
changed from potentiality to act and : yet that
absolutely speaking potentiality does not precede act even
in point of time, since potentiality is not reduced to act
except by an act. He says, therefore, that the intellect
which is in potentiality, namely the possible intellect considered
as being in potentiality, precedes the intellect in act
in point of time; and this, be it said, in one and the same
subject. But not altogether, i.e. :
universally because the
possible intellect is reduced to act by the active intellect,
which again
is in act, as he said, by some possible intellect
made actual; wherefore he said (3 Phys.y that before
learning a man needs a teacher to reduce him from potentiality
to act. Accordingly in these words he shows the
relation of the possible intellect, as in potentiality, to the
intellect in act.
Then he '
says
: But it does not sometimes understand,
and sometimes not understand.
he indicates the
Whereby
difference between the intellect in act and the possible
intellect. For he said above* of the possible intellect that
it does not understand always, but sometimes does not
understand, when it is in potentiality to intelligibles, and
sometimes understands, when, to wit, it is them actually.
Now the intellect becomes actual bv becomine[_the--intelligibles^^g
^"^ ^^^ alrpg^y c^oi^r^ it
Consequendy
is
not competent to it to understand sometimes, and sometimes
not to understand.
Afterwards he adds : But that alone is separate which is
(intellect) truly. This cannot apply to the active intellect,
^ V. 2.
* iii. 3.
' V. 2.
* iv. 12.