The Human Subject
Definitions
I
764. Essence is `that which the spirit intuits in an idea'.
II
765. Substance is `that first act of being through which an essence subsists'.
III
766. A (substantial) individual is `a substance in so far as it is indivisible, incommunicable, and has all that is necessary for its subsistence'.
IV
767. A subject is `a sentient individual in so far as it contains within itself an supreme, active principle'.
V
An intellective subject is `a subject that intuits ideal being'.
VI
A human subject is `a subject that is simultaneously a principle of animality and of intelligence'.
VII
768. Myself is `an active principle in a given nature in so far as the principle is conscious of itself'.
VIII
769. Person is `an intellective subject in so far as it contains a supreme, active principle'.
770. From the beginning of this work I have defined the human being as `an animal, intellective and volitive subject'. I then divided the definition into its parts so that each part could be discussed separately. These parts are three: animality, intelligence and the principle common to both animality and intelligence (the subject). Till now I have dealt only with the first two, animality and intelligence; I must now consider the human subject, which is simultaneously an animal and intelligent principle. I will then have fulfilled, to the best of my ability, the task I gave myself of examining the definition of human being in all its parts, which is the final aim of anthropology.
I must begin by examining what is meant by subject in general, because this will prepare the way for discussing human subject.