ARTICLE 3

Whether a power of the soul can be the subject of virtue.

1. Objections: It would seem that it cannot.

             a. The subject of virtue is not the powers

    but the essence of the soul   obj. 1 and 2.

 b. A power of the soul cannot be the subject

    of virtue because:

  (1) it is an accident, not a substance obj. 3, 6, 7.

  (2) not every power is beset by the

      attacks of vice.    obj. 4.

  (3) it is an active principle   obj. 5.

2. On the contrary

 a. Virtuous acts proceed from the powers of

    the soul.       1.

 b. Authority of Aristotle    2.

3. Body

 a. The subject of an accident may be considered under three aspects:

  (1) as sustaining the accident by its subsistence.

  (2) as in potency to be actualized by the accident.

  (3) as the cause of the accident.

 b. One accident:

  (1) cannot sustain another accident, since no accident subsists per se.

  (2) can be in potency to another.

  (3) can be the cause of another.

 c. The powers of the soul are subjects of virtue as being in potency to and causing them.

  (1) These powers are determined and actualized to good acts by virtuous habits.

  (2) The acquired virtues are caused, i.e., elicited, by the powers.

Conclusion: Virtues are in the soul through the powers in which they reside.