Read Concerning Being And Essence Online

CONCERNING BEING AND ESSENCE 19 

the ratio of universal according as it is compared to things 
which are outside of the soul because it is a single likeness of 
all, nevertheless according as it has existence in this intellect 
or that it is a certain particular intellected species. And there- 
fore the error of the Commentator in book three on the De 
Anima 21 is clear, seeing that he wished to conclude from the 
universality of the intellected form to the unity of the intel- 
lect in all men; because there is no universality of that form 
according to the existence which it has in the intellect, but 
according as it is referred to things as a likeness of things. 
Thus, too, if there were a single corporeal statue representing 
many men, it is clear that the image or species of the statue 
would have an existence singular and proper according as it 
existed in this matter, but it would have a ratio of cqmmunity 
according as it were a common thing representing many. And 
because to human nature according to its absolute consideration 
belongs what is predicated of Socrates, and since the ratio of 
species does not belong to it according to its absolute consider- 
ation, but follows from accidents which issue from it accord- 
ing to the existence which it has in the intellect, therefore the 

tjrif jf/ 

name of species is not predicated of Socrates so that it is said 
that Socrates is a species, which would necessarily happen if 
the ratio of species belonged to man according to the existence 
which he has in Socrates, or according to man's absolute con- 
sideration, namely, inasmuch as he is man; for whatever applies 
to man inasmuch as he is man is predicated of Socrates. Yet 
to be predicated applies to genus by virtue of itself (per se\ 
since it is posited in its definition. For predication is a certain 
thing which is perfected by means of the action of the intellect 
composing and dividing, having in the very thing as its founda- 
tion the unity of those things of which one is asserted of the 
other. Whence the ratio of predicability can be included in the 
21 Avcrrocs, In DC An., Ill, com, 5, f, 117.