Θεωρία καὶ πρᾶξις
theory and practice
Translated by Marcelo Boeri10 Apr 2000Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
The former is the theoretical [activity] of the intellect, the latter is its practical [activity]. Now the practical [activity] itself gets conclusions by reasoning out of a condition related to the body. Consequently, after the body's death, the intellect is not practical any more but it is only theoretical. And the practical intellect is different from the theoretical one because of its end, and it is not different because of its subject, as the seed and the fruit do not differ either. For the grasp of the truth is the end for the theoretical intellect, and the grasp of the good is the end for the practical one. Therefore, he is saying, the intellect seems to be a different genus from the soul, and only it has a separable substance but all the rest of the soul [is] inseparable.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Θεωρία καὶ πρᾶξις· ὅτι τοῦ νοῦ τὸ μέν ἐστι θεωρητικόν, τὸ δὲ πρακτικόν. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρακτικὸν ἐκ τῆς σχέσεως αὐτὸ λογίζεται τῆς πρὸς τὸ σῶμα· διὸ μετὰ τὸ ἀπολυθῆναι τοῦ σώματος οὐκέτι ἐστὶ πρακτικός, μόνον δὲ θεωρητικός. διαφέρει δὲ ὁ πρακτικὸς νοῦς τοῦ θεωρητικοῦ τῷ τέλει, μηδὲν τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ διαφέρων, ὡς οὐδὲ τὸ σπέρμα καὶ ὁ καρπός. τῷ μὲν γὰρ θεωρητικῷ τέλος ἐστὶν ἡ τῆς ἀληθείας κατάληψις, τῷ δὲ πρακτικῷ ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ. ὁ μὲν οὖν νοῦς, φησί, γένος ἕτερον εἶναι δοκεῖ ψυχῆς καὶ μόνος χωριστὴν ἔχει τὴν οὐσίαν, ἡ δὲ λοιπὴ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἀχώριστος.
Betacode
*qewri/a kai\ pra=cis: o(/ti tou= nou= to\ me/n e)sti qewrhtiko/n, to\ de\ praktiko/n. to\ me\n ou)=n praktiko\n e)k th=s sxe/sews au)to\ logi/zetai th=s pro\s to\ sw=ma: dio\ meta\ to\ a)poluqh=nai tou= sw/matos ou)ke/ti e)sti\ praktiko/s, mo/non de\ qewrhtiko/s. diafe/rei de\ o( praktiko\s nou=s tou= qewrhtikou= tw=| te/lei, mhde\n tw=| u(pokeime/nw| diafe/rwn, w(s ou)de\ to\ spe/rma kai\ o( karpo/s. tw=| me\n ga\r qewrhtikw=| te/los e)sti\n h( th=s a)lhqei/as kata/lhyis, tw=| de\ praktikw=| h( tou= a)gaqou=. o( me\n ou)=n nou=s, fhsi/, ge/nos e(/teron ei)=nai dokei= yuxh=s kai\ mo/nos xwristh\n e)/xei th\n ou)si/an, h( de\ loiph\ pa=sa yuxh\ a)xw/ristos.
Notes
- John Philoponus, On Aristotle's de anima 241.6-13, 18-21. See also theta 214, theta 216.
Linked from2 entries
- θ214Θεωρίαtheory, contemplationTheory/contemplation [is] more worth choosing than practice/action, [because] its activity has to do with what is more valuable; for action is related both to what should be done and to what depends on us, but…
- θ216Θεωρίαtheory, contemplationContemplation is the fulfillment of a priesthood which does not belie its name; but contemplation and action do not consent to occur together. For an impulse [is] an impulse of actions; but no [action is] impassive.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history3 revisions · last 1 Jan 2013
- more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- modified translation — Catharine Roth
- added note; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Marcelo Boeri