Abstract: Aristotle's analysis of perception is very important in his theory of soul. Perception is one of the basic abilities of the soul. It is defined in De Anima as “receiving perceptible forms without matter”. Here he determined the importance of form and non-material characteristics. However， since the senseless can also receive the form of something without matter， this definition is not enough to determine the essence of perceptive reception. This definition is correct， but it is too broad and needs to be clarified. In fact， the activity of perceptive reception is not a passive receptive behavior， but a distinguishing activity of active choice. This activity lies between the senses and their objects， and the nature of mean is the essential characteristic of the perceptive ability and the form of perceptive object. Moreover， this perceptive reception activity takes the brain and the heart as the physiological basis.

Key words: Aristotle; perception; receptivity; differentiation ability