The force of this admission will appear in the next two chapters. Two propositions must be kept apart: --

(a) The origin of the intellectual soul of man is synchronous with the moment of conception.

(b) The intellectual soul of man is, as the body of man, simply a product of conception.

St Thomas denies both these propositions. Modern Catholic theologians usually are content with denying the second only.

Of God and His Creatures: 2.86