On the Soul (De Anima) with Simplicius Commentary

The phantasy receives impressions from the five senses, but each of the senses alone knows its own proper sensible object.

Again, of the orectic (appetitive) and vital powers, one is anger, and the other is desire. Since Providence sent us here to adorn a terrestrial nature, He committed to us this allotment, which He desired we should preserve. Since there are many things detrimental to this life, and our mortal nature is flowing and prone to corruption, He gave us anger and desire: that by the former we might repel what is detrimental, and by the latter we might re-weave what we lose by continual waste.

The practical rational powers are will and pre-election Choice or deliberation.. Will is directed solely to the good, but pre-election is of an ambiguous nature. Will belongs to the rational soul as it exists in itself, while pre-election pertains to the rational soul insofar as it is complicated with irrationality. When the soul is beyond generation (the physical, changing world), it energizes according to will, for it is then in the good alone. But when it subsists in generation, since irrational powers are connected to its essence, it possesses pre-election as a consequence of this complication, because at one time it is conversant with irrationality, and at another with reason, and chooses this thing prior to that.

Besides these, there are the vegetative powers: nutritive, augmentative, and generative. They are called vegetative because they are seen in plants. When plants are irrigated and manured, they are nourished, increased, and generate similar beings.