Unity of the intellect

The unity of the intellect is a philosophical theory proposed by the Muslim medieval Andalusian philosopher Averroes (1126–1198), which asserted that all humans share the same intellect. Averroes expounded his theory in his long commentary of On the Soul to explain how universal knowledge is possible within the Aristotelian theory of mind. When Averroes' works were translated into Latin, this theory was taken up and expanded by Averroists in Western Europe in the following centuries. However it was rejected by other philosophers—including Thomas Aquinas who wrote a detailed critique—and received condemnation by Catholic Church authorities. In modern times, it is no longer seen as a tenable theory and is considered a product of Averroes' time.

The idea of a single, universal intellect associated with all human knowledge had been proposed by philosophers before Averroes. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) proposes a "maker intellect" which enable thinking by making things intelligible, much like light allows seeing by making things visible. Muslim philosophers Avicenna (died 1037) and Al-Farabi (d. 951) further this theory and call it the "agent intellect", which gives forms to matter and facilitates human knowledge. Plotinus (d. 270), whose works was also well-known in the Islamic world, proposed that human beings gained knowledge by their relation to a divine intellect.

Averroes' idea is different from the previous theories because the other ones hold that the universal intellect is superhuman and that each human individual has their own intellect, while Averroes identifies the single intellect with the mind of all humans. While Averroes lays his ideas on human intellect in his three commentaries on Aristotle's On the Soul, this theory only appears on his long commentary. He provides different theses for explanation human knowledge in his previous two commentaries, suggesting that the unity of the intellect is his most mature theory after considering other ideas.

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