CHAPTER 4

OF THE RATIONAL PART OF THE SOUL: THE MIND

According to Plutarch, Pythagoras defined the soul as, “A self-moving number,” adding that he takes number to be the same as a mind.841 The mind, is induced into the soul ab extrinseco, from without, by divine participation⁸⁴² culled out as a small part of the universal Divine Mind.⁸⁴³ For there is a soul intent and penetrating in all directions through the whole nature of things⁸⁴⁴ from which our souls are plucked.⁸⁴⁵ She is immortal, because that from which she is taken is immortal, yet not a god—but the work of the eternal God.⁸⁴⁶ Thus Pythagoras confirmed the opinion of his master Pherecides, who first taught that the souls of men are sempiternal.

Our Souls (said he) consist of a tetrad: mind, science, opinion, sense. From this tetrad proceeds all art and science by which we ourselves are rational.⁸⁴⁷ The mind therefore is a monad, for the mind considers according to a monad. By way of example, there are many men. These, one by one, are incomprehensible by sense and innumerable. But we understand this one man to which none has resemblance. And we understand one horse, for the particulars are innumerable. Thus every genus and species is according to monad, wherefore to everyone in particular they apply this definition—whether a rational creature or a neighing creature. Hence is the mind a monad, whereby we understand these things. The indeterminate duad is science. For all demonstration, and all belief of science, and likewise all syllogism from some things granted, infer that which is doubted. And they easily demonstrate another thing, the comprehension whereof is science. Therefore it is as the duad. Opinion is justly a triad, being of many. Triad implies a multitude, as, thrice happy Greeks—(The rest of the text is wanting.)

The Pythagoreans assert eight organs of knowledge: Sense, Phantasie, Art, Opinion, Prudence, Science, Wisdom, Mind.⁸⁴⁸ Of these, we have in common with divine natures, art, prudence, science, mind. With beasts we share sense and Phantasie. Only opinion is proper to us. Sense is a deceitful knowledge through the body; Phantasie, a motion in the soul; art, a habit of operating with reason. We add, “with reason,” for a spider also operates, but without reason. Prudence is a habit elective of that which is right in things to be done. Science is a habit of those things which are always the same and in the same manner. Wisdom is a knowledge of the First Cause. Mind is the principle and fountain of all good things.