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CHAPTER 7 452B7–453A4 452b7 It is most necessary, however, to know time, either with a measure or infinitely. 452b8 There is, however, something by which one judges the greater and lesser: moreover, it is able to be put into a ratio,1 just like magnitudes. For one understands great ones even far off, not by extending one’s understanding out yonder, as some might say of sight (for even when they are not, it similarly understands ), but by a proportional motion. For there are similar figures and motions in it. 452b13 For2 by what does it differ when it understands the greater ones? 452b13 Or is it that3 it understands those that are less? For all those that are within are lesser; and those that are outside are also proportionately. But perchance it is able to get a proportional just as also with the species, but in it, so too with the distances. 452b17 So just as if something is moved according to AB, BE it makes GD: for AG and GD are proportional. What then makes GD rather than ZI? Or as AG is to AB, so is KT to TM; hence it is being moved with respect to those together; but if one wants to understand according to AZ, ZI, he understands similarly to GB, BE. But instead of TC, he will understand KL. For these are related as ZA to BA. 452b23 So when a motion of both the thing and of the time comes about together, then memory is acting. If, however, he thinks he remembers while not doing so; for nothing keeps someone from being deceived and to seem to remember even while not remembering. It is not, however, possible for one acting in his memory not to think that he does so but rather not to notice what is remembered: for this was just what remembering is. But if the that belongs to the thing 223 MC B E K FIGURE 7.1 L A G Z I D T should come into being without the one that belongs to the time, or the latter without the former, he does not recollect. 452b29 But the one that belongs to time is twofold. For sometimes he does not remember it with a measure, e.g. that it was two days ago, but that he did do it at some time or other. Sometimes however also with a measure. But he does remember although not with a measure; for men are accustomed to say that they remember but do not know when, whenever they do not know its quantity with a metron. Commentary 452b7 After the Philosopher has shown the mode of recalling from the side of the things to be recalled, here he determines the mode of recalling from the side of time. And first he sets out what he intends to do. Second he clarifies what he had set out, where he says There is, however, something by which one judges (452b8). He says first, therefore, that in recollecting it is most necessary to know time, namely the past, which memory is concerned with, which recollection is a search for; past time is known by one who is recollecting sometimes under a determinate measure, for instance when one knows that one has sensed this item two days ago, and sometimes it is known infinitely , that is indeterminately, for instance if one remembers that he has sensed this item at some unspecified time.4 452b8 Then, when he says There is, however, something by which one judges, he clarifies what he had set out. First he shows how the soul knows the measure of time. Second he clarifies the principal point which he had set out, namely that the person who recollects must know time, where he says So when a motion of both the thing and of time (452b23). In regard to the first he does two things. First he clarifies what he had set out. Second he solves a certain question where he says For by what does it differ (452b13). For he says first that there is something in the soul whereby it judges a greater or lesser measure of time. And this is to be able to be put into a ratio with respect to time just as it is also in respect to bodily magnitudes: which the soul understands to be both large with respect to the quantity of the bodies seen, and far off with respect to the...

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