Perception: Created Between A Human Soul And An Animal Mind

Contemplation vs. Perception What factor allows for a distinction to be created between a human soul and an animal soul? Aristotle provides the essence of this resolution through the interpretation of contemplation and sense perception. In giving his account of sense perception towards the end of chapter five (417b 10-30), Aristotle differentiates it from contemplation by illuminating the severe discrepancies within the nature of both activities. His main argument being centered around the obligation for external causes in perception, but not in examination. This reasoning becomes principal in dissecting the hierarchy of souls, and presenting humans to hold specific characteristics to which animals don’t. This passage is essentially a small

Which signifies that the capacity to perceive is inherent within an individual; thus, referring to conception. By being born, the parent inflicts onto the infant its first step in sense perception. Aristotle initiates the following paragraph with this thought in order establish a foundation for the meaning of perception before delving into the contrasting traits it holds with contemplation. He goes on to explain that when a being is brought into this world, it posses a material that permits them to perceive (417b 10). Aristotle is expanding the notion that perception is within a being through birth. This point is crucial in the distinction he will next introduce. We are not born without any prior knowledge of thought. This is insisting that knowledge is neither unbiased, nor unpure (Bova, 5, October 2017). This piece of evidence is insisting that perception is in fact objective because one does not have authority over what is directly in front of them, while contemplation is merely subjective. For example, if someone were to put a can of soda directly in front of me, I would have no choice but to look at the can; however, if someone were to tell me to think of a can of soda, and even give me the specifics of the appearance, my mind is not obligated to think of that can, I have more leeway and perhaps a flexibility when observing and examining. Aristotle then declares that perception and contemplation are described in the same way, yet differ in production (417b 10-20). In order to comprehend the sameness in the two, we must first acknowledge what contemplation denotes and how it compares to sense perception. The concept is brought up myriad times Book II, but is most simply defined as knowledge or thinking (417b). This examination would allow for thorough reasoning or opinions to be able to develop within beings.