Medieval Philosophy

by Peter S. Adamson

What really bothers him about the species theory is that it makes us passive as perceivers, much as the intellectualist theory of choice made the will passive. Against this Olivi insists that perception is no more passive than the will. To perceive an olive I must actively do something: I must attend or pay attention to the olive. In fact, Olivi even uses the word attencio to describe the phenomenon.9 He also uses the evocative language of “imbibing” or “drinking in” what is perceived. Less metaphorically, but still somewhat mysteriously, he speaks of the soul’s aspectus, a kind of orientation or direction of focus that we bring to bear on things when we attend to them.10 Olivi gives an illustration of his point that is not unlike Plotinus’ case of the mind wandering when one tries to read. He asks us to consider someone sleeping with his eyes open. If there is light in the room, the sleeper’s eyes should be physically affected by his surroundings, just as they are when he is awake. So the sleeping person should see, if seeing is a purely passive process, as the species theory demands. But in fact, sleeping people don’t see anything, because their souls are at rest