THE INTELLIGIBLE AS POTENTIAL AND ACTUALIZED IN THE SOUL.

Likewise, Intelligence, as such, contains all the individual

intelligences as its parts.[35] These, however, form a number.

Consequently, the number which is in the Intelligence does not occupy

the first degree. So far as the number is in Intelligence, it is equal

to the quantity of the actualizations of Intelligence. Now, these

actualizations are wisdom, justice, and the other virtues, science,

and all the (ideas) whose possession characterizes it as veritable

Intelligence. (If then science exist in the Intelligence) how does it

happen that it is not there in some principle other than itself? In

Intelligence the knower, the known, and science are one and the same

thing; and with everything else within it. That is why every (entity)

exists in the intelligible world in its highest degree. For instance,

within it, Justice is no accident, though it be one in the soul, as

such; for intelligible entities are in the soul (only in) potential

condition (so long as she remains no more than soul); and they are

actualized when the soul rises to Intelligence and dwells with it.[36]

Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods · 第 29 / 442 题