The common sense’s criterion in the unification function, according to Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

In this article, we pretend to explore the Thomas Aquina’s theory that is developed to explain the functioning of human perception. In that theory are introduced the operations carried out by the common sense, among them the unification function of the manifold given by the external senses. It will be explored precisely the problem that follows: what kind of criterion the common sense use in the unification of the manifold. In order to identify the correct answer, we begin with a investigation about the kinds of information that are apprehended by the external senses.We pretend to show that there are two basic kinds of information: informations about qualities and quantity of empirical objetcs. After, it will be investigated how Thomas Aquinas caracterizes the unification function by means of the manifold simultaneos perception. At last, it will be reconstructed the criterion of unification function through the Aquina’s thesis that the informations about quantity are apprehended as subject of informations of qualities. In that extent the unification of apreehended qualities can be made by the identification of the common subject of the qualities.