The Middle Standpoint of John Philoponus on Aristotle's Theory on Passive Intellect in Comparison with those of Alexander and Averroes

The passive intellect is introduced in Aristotle's thought in contrast with other faculties of the soul. The intellect, a passive one, is regarded as a faculty of the soul unmixed with, and separated from, body which is not affected by anything other than itself. It is called material (Hayūlānī) intellect by Muslim philosophers.The author's position about its unity of plurality is determined by their view on its separation and unmixedness. John Philoponus, Averroes and Alexander, three important commentators of Aristotle's De Anima, and have their own view on this intellect. Alexander considers it embodied, material and as caused by body, while In Averroes, it is separate, imperishable and unmixed. John Philoponus adopts a middle standpoint with which the present paper deals.