Hence it is absurd in this and similar cases to demand
an absolutely general definition which will fail to express the
peculiar nature of anything that is, or again, omitting this, to
look for separate definitions corresponding to each infima species.
The cases of figure and soul are exactly parallel; for the particulars
subsumed under the common name in both cases-figures and living
beings-constitute a series, each successive term of which
potentially contains its predecessor, e.g. the square the triangle,
the sensory power the self-nutritive. Hence we must ask in the case of
each order of living things, What is its soul, i.e. What is the soul
of plant, animal, man? Why the terms are related in this serial way
must form the subject of later examination. But the facts are that the
power of perception is never found apart from the power of
self-nutrition, while-in plants-the latter is found isolated from
the former. Again, no sense is found apart from that of touch, while
touch is found by itself; many animals have neither sight, hearing,
nor smell. Again, among living things that possess sense some have the
power of locomotion, some not. Lastly, certain living beings-a small
minority-possess calculation and thought, for (among mortal beings)
those which possess calculation have all the other powers above
mentioned, while the converse does not hold-indeed some live by
imagination alone, while others have not even imagination. The mind
that knows with immediate intuition presents a different problem.
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