The Artist’s Course of Study
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the organ of perception (imprensiva); and to this instrument they have given the name of ‘sensus communis’. And this name is used simply because it is the common judge of the other five senses, namely seeing, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. The ‘sensus communis’ is activated by the organ of perception (imprensiva) which is situated midway between it and the senses. The organ of perception works by means of the images of the things transmitted to it by the five senses, which are placed on the surface midway between the external things and the organ of perception. . . . The images of the surrounding things are transmitted to the senses, and the senses transmit them to the organ of perception, and the organ of perception transmits them to the ‘sensus communis’, and by it they are imprinted on the memory, and are retained there more or less distinctly according to the importance or power of the thing given. The sense which is nearest to the organ of perception functions most quickly; and this is the eye, the chief and leader of all others; of this only will we treat and leave the others in order not to be too long. Experience tells us that the eye takes cognizance of ten different qualities of objects;* namely: light and darkness— the first serves to reveal the other nine—the other serves to conceal them—colour and substance, form and position, distance and nearness, movement and rest.1 How the five senses are the ministers of the soul The soul apparently resides in the seat of judgement, and judgement apparently resides in the place called ‘sensus communis’ where all the senses meet; and it is in this place and not throughout the body as many have believed; for if that were so it would not have been necessary for the instruments of the senses to meet in one particular spot; it would have sufficed for the eye to register its perception on its surface instead of transmitting the images of the things seen to the ‘sensus communis’ by way of the optic nerves; for the soul would have comprehended them upon the surface of the eye.