Compendium on the Soul

ON THE SOUL

Another reading: a. of power.

...its reasoning was such that there occurs only a lessening and a decreaseof power of the controlling contrary element. And it is also known that whenever the second division is found, then a balancing and equality would be necessary in those things which require the operations of simple forms Basic elements like fire or water in their pure state. and those which require their passions In this context, "passions" refers to how an element is acted upon or affected by others.. And it is known
Another reading: b. the essence of the composite.

that when the third division is found, it does not come fromthe essence of the composite [having a composition], since it does not possess it, nor according to
Another reading: c. the consideration of the composition.

the consideration of the form of simple elements, nor according to [compositionthe consideration of the composition]. It is, therefore, something arriving from the outside. Since we have laid down these premises, it is necessary that we proceed in our intention and say that the soul does not arrive except to a body composed of contrary forms: wherefore it cannot be otherwise than that its arrival is according to one

of the two or three divisions. But it is not from the first division; if it were, then it would be heat, or cold, or dryness, or moisture, in which (whatever it may be) some decrease occurs. And how then would any of these powers be disposed or prepared so that the operations of the soul might proceed from them upon the arrival of a compositional decrease in them, when they were not disposed or prepared† at the hour in which they had their completion or
†. their perfection and their power; that is, perfect and not diminished.

†perfection and their power? Indeed, how would any of them move? And it is clear that they would not move except toward one direction alone original: "nisi ad unam partem solum"; medieval science held that simple elements only move in one natural direction—like fire moving up—whereas living souls move in many complex ways..

Another reading: d. in the impression or in the operation of a single thing.

F And why then would that be necessary which a hindrance Something that stops or resists a natural movement. requires regarding the movements of the soul, such that their hindrance causes weakness, if inthe impression or operation of a single thing [things which have a single operation] by themselves, no hindrance occurs? Nor is the soul the "second division," since the discovery of the second division is among those things that are impossible. And this is because whenever elements are composed according to an equality of powers, it necessarily causes the destruction of all impressions or operations proportioned or suitable to each of them: and it will not be possible, when they are left according to the aforementioned composition, for them to move, neither to a higher part—otherwise then heat would be dominating and cold overcome—nor to a lower part—otherwise then cold would dominate and heat be overcome; indeed, it would not be possible for it to rest in one "where" original: "vno vbi"; "Where" was a technical term for a specific location in space. or in one of the four natural locations, otherwise then the nature attracting it toward that place would dominate in it. And it has already been said