 The nature of the active intellect was the subject of intense discussion in medieval philosophy, as various Muslim, Jewish and Christian thinkers sought to reconcile their commitment to Aristotle's account of the body and soul to their own theological commitments.At stake in particular was in what way Aristotle's account of an incorporeal soul might contribute to understanding of the nature of eternal life.The idea is first encountered in Aristotle's "De Anima", Book III.