Themistius on Intellect. Theophrastus and Plotinus as Sources of In De Anima III 5

Themistius’ paraphrase of Aristotle’s De Anima III 5 is one of the two sources for our knowledge of Theophrastus’ lost De Anima. Themistius quotes Theophrastus’ aporias about the intellect and transforms them into the proof that both Aristotle and Theophrastus sided with Plato in assessing the immortality of our intellect. Thus, intellect turns out to be the immortal part of our soul. At variance with intellect, that part of our soul that shares its affections with body is mortal. Themistius’ treatment of De Anima III 5 has not only Theophrastus as its source, but also Plotinus’ distinction between intellect – our true self – and that part or function of our soul that intermingles with body.