But, argues Godfrey, because phantasms exist in the imagination and are organic and individuated and therefore incapable of moving a purely spiritual power which knows in universal fashion, the agent intellect does not introduce any positive disposition into the phantasms.
They are extended or unfolded images of the Forms that exist in intellect; and by means of them the world-soul with the assistance of Nature brings forth everything.
The argument rests on two assumptions: (i) different species cannot exist in different intellects and still represent (indicare) one and the same thing; (ii) the same species cannot be present in numerically distinct intellects (QLIIS 78, 215).
As part of his reply, Descartes says, "If cold is simply an absence, the idea of cold is not coldness itself as it exists objectively in the intellect, but something else, which I erroneously mistake for this absence, namely a sensation which in fact has no existence outside the intellect" (Descartes, 2 163).
(G VI 614/AG 218) In other words, there will be determinate essences of some substances that are actualized in the world as well as determinate essences of substances that exist solely in the divine intellect.
The question boils down to whether relations exist in some manner in extra-mental reality or solely through the operation of the intellect, like second intentions (species and genera).
However, it is not clear how for Plutarch the Forms exist in God, since in Plutarch's view God, as Osiris, can be analyzed into three elements, intellect, soul, and body (De Iside 373A).
It is comforting to know that while Hamlet, Rosalind, Portia and other sublime intellects do not exist in Othello, they do exist in life, and they will always outthink the Iagos of the world.
It can also be said that intentions really exist in a res, but only potentially, whereas their distinction is an operation of the intellect alone.
It stays in the intellect.
