Book 6
6
These two rational faculties may be designated the Scientific Faculty and the Calculative Faculty respectively; since calculation is the same as deliberation, and deliberation is never exercised about things that are invariable, so that the Calculative Faculty is a separate part of the rational half of the soul.
7
We have therefore to ascertain what disposition of each of these faculties is the best, for that will be the special virtue of each.
7
But the virtue of a faculty is related to the special function which that faculty performs.
1
Now there are three elements in the soul which control action and the attainment of truth: namely, Sensation, Intellect,νοῦς here bears its usual philosophic sense of the intellect, or rational part of the soul, as a whole, whose function is διάνοια, thought in general. In chap. 6 it is given a special and restricted meaning, and this in chap. 9 is related to the popular use of the word to denote good sense or practical intelligence. and Desire.
2
Of these, Sensation never originates action, as is shown by the fact that animals have sensation but are not capable of action.πρᾶξις means rational action, conduct. The movements of animals, Aristotle appears to think, are mere reactions to the stimuli of sensation.
