the ethics(part v)-第4章
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who most greedily covet it。 This is not peculiar to the ambitious; but is
common to all who are ill…used by fortune; and who are infirm in spirit。
For a poor man also; who is miserly; will talk incessantly of the misuse of
wealth and of the vices of the rich; whereby he merely torments himself; and
shows the world that he is intolerant; not only of his own poverty; but also
of other people's riches。 So; again; those who have been ill received by a
woman they love think of nothing but the inconstancy; treachery; and other
stock faults of the fair sex; all of which they consign to oblivion;
directly they are again taken into favour by their sweetheart。 Thus he who
would govern his emotions and appetite solely by the love of freedom
strives; as far as he can; to gain a knowledge of the virtues and their
causes; and to fill his spirit with the joy which arises from the true
knowledge of them: he will in no wise desire to dwell on men's faults; or to
carp at his fellows; or to revel in a false show of freedom。 Whosoever will
diligently observe and practise these precepts (which indeed are not
difficult) will verily; in a short space of time; be able; for the most
part; to direct his actions according to the commandments of reason。
Prop。XI。 In proportion as a mental image is referred to more
objects; so is it more frequent; or more often vivid; and occupies
the mind more。
Proof。… In proportion as a mental image or an emotion is referred to more
objects; so are there more causes whereby it can be aroused and fostered;
all of which (by hypothesis) the mind contemplates simultaneously in
association with the given emotion; therefore the emotion is more frequent;
or is more often in full vigour; and (V:viii。) occupies the mind more。
Q。E。D。
Prop。XII。 The mental images of things are more easily
associated with the images referred to things which we clearly
and distinctly understand; than with others。
Proof。… Things; which we clearly and distinctly understand; are either the
common properties of things or deductions therefrom (see definition of
Reason; II:。xl。Note ii。); and are consequently (by the last Prop。) more
often aroused in us。 Wherefore it may more readily happen; that we should
contemplate other things in conjunction with these than in conjunction with
something else; and consequently (II:xviii。) that the images of the said
things should be more often associated with the images of these than with
the images of something else。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XIII。 A mental image is more often vivid; in proportion
as it is associated with a greater number of other images。
Proof。… In proportion as an image is associated with a greater number of
other images; so (II:xviii。) are there more causes whereby it can be
aroused。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XIV。 The mind can bring it about; that all bodily
modifications or images of things may be referred to the
idea of God。
Proof。… There is no modification of the body; whereof the mind may not form
some clear and distinct conception (V:iv。); wherefore it can bring it about;
that they should all be referred to the idea of God (I:xv。)。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XV。 He who clearly and distinctly understands himself
and his emotions loves God; and so much the more in proportion
as he more understands himself and his emotions。
Proof。… He who clearly and distinctly understands himself and his emotions
feels pleasure (III:liii。); and this pleasure is (by the last Prop。)
accompanied by the idea of God; therefore (Def。 of the Emotions:vi。) such an
one loves God; and (for the same reason) so much the more in proportion as
he more understands himself and his emotions。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XVI。 This love towards God must
hold the chief place in the mind。
Proof。… For this love is associated with all the modifications of the body
(V:xiv。) and is fostered by them all (V:v。); therefore (V:xi。); it must hold
the chief place in the mind。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XVII。 God is without passions;
neither is he affected by
any emotion of pleasure or pain。
Proof。… All ideas; in so far as they are referred to God; are true
(II:xxxii。); that is (II:Def。iv。) adequate; and therefore (by the general
Def。 of the Emotions) God is without passions。 Again; God cannot pass either
to a greater or to a lesser perfection (I:xx。Coroll。ii。); therefore
(by Def。 of the Emotions:ii。; &iii。) he is not affected by any emotion of
pleasure or pain。
Corollary。 Strictly speaking; God does not love or hate anyone。 For God (by
the foregoing Prop。) is not affected by any emotion of pleasure or pain;
consequently (Def。 of the Emotions:vi。; &vii。) he does not love or hate
anyone。
Prop。XVIII。 No one can hate God。
Proof。… The idea of God which is in us is adequate and perfect (II:xlvi。;
II:xlvii。); wherefore; in so far as we contemplate God; we are active
(III:iii。) ; consequently (III:lix。) there can be no pain accompanied by the
idea of God; in other words (Def。 of the Emotions:vii。); no one can hate
God。 Q。E。D。
Corollary。… Love towards God cannot be turned into hate。
Note。… It may be objected that; as we understand God as the cause of all
things; we by that very fact regard God as the cause of pain。 But I make
answer; that; in so far as we understand the causes of pain; it to that
extent (V:iii。) ceases to be a passion; that is; it ceases to be pain
(III:lix。); therefore; in so far as we understand God to be the cause of
pain; we to that extent feel pleasure。
Prop。 XIX。 He; who loves God;
cannot endeavour that God
should love him in return。
Proof。… For; if a man should so endeavour; he would desire (V:xvii。Coroll。)
that God; whom he loves; should not be God; and consequently he would desire
to feel pain (III:xix。); which is absurd (III:xxviii。)。 Therefore; he who
loves God; &c。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XX。 This love towards God cannot be stained by the
emotion of envy or jealousy: contrariwise; it is the more fostered;
in proportion as we conceive a greater number of men to be
joined to God by the same bond of love。
Proof。… This love towards God is the highest good which we can seek for
under the guidance of reason (IV:xxviii。); it is common to all men
(IV:xxxvi);and we desire that all should rejoice therein (IV:xxxvii。);
therefore (Def。 of the Emotions:xxiii); it cannot be stained by the
emotion envy nor by; the emotion of jealousy; (V:xviii。 see definition of
Jealousy; (III:xxxv。 Note); but; contrariwise; it must needs be the more
fostered; in proportion as we conceive a greater number of men to rejoice
therein。 Q。E。D。
Note。… We can in the same way; show; that there is no emotion directly
contrary to this love; whereby this love can be destroyed; therefore we may
conclude; that this love towards God is the most constant of all the
emotions; and that; in so far as it is referred to the body; it cannot be
destroyed; unless the body be destroyed also。 As to its nature; in so far as
it is referred to the mind only; we shall presently inquire。
I have now gone through all the remedies against the emotions; or all
that the mind; considered in itself alone; can do against them。 Whence it
appears that the mind's power over the emotions consists:…
I。 In the actual knowledge of the emotions (V:iv。Note)。
II。 In the fact that it separates the emotions from the thought of an
external cause; which we conceive confusedly (V:ii。 and V:iv。Note)。
III。 In the fact; that; in respect to time; the emotions referred to
things; which we distinctly understand; surpass those referred to what we
conceive in a confused and fragmentary