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the ethics(part iv)-第6部分
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Note。… This is also self…evident; for; if we say that white and black only
agree in the fact that neither is red; we absolutely affirm that the do not
agree in any respect。 So; if we say that a man and a stone only agree in the
fact that both are finite … wanting in power; not existing by the necessity
of their own nature; or; lastly; indefinitely surpassed by the power of
external causes … we should certainly affirm that a man and a stone are in
no respect alike; therefore; things which agree only in negation; or in
qualities which neither possess; really agree in no respect。
Prop。 XXXIII。 Men can differ in nature;
in so far as they are assailed by those
emotions; which are passions; or passive
states; and to this extent one and the
same man is variable and inconstant。
Proof。… The nature or essence of the emotions cannot be explained solely
through our essence or nature (III:Def。i。&ii。); but it must be defined by
the power; that is (III:vii。); by the nature of external causes in
comparison with our own; hence it follows; that there are as many kinds of
each emotion as there are external objects whereby we are affected
(III:lvi。); and that men may be differently affected by one and the same
object (III:li); and to this extent differ in nature; lastly; that one and
the same man may be differently affected towards the same object; and may
therefore be variable and inconstant。 Q。E。D。
Prop。 XXXIV。 In so far as men are assailed
by emotions which are passions; they can be
contrary one to another。
Proof。… A man; for instance Peter; can be the cause of Paul's feeling pain;
because he (Peter) possesses something similar to that which Paul hates
(III:xvi。); or because Peter has sole possession of a thing which Paul also
loves (III:xxxii。&Note); or for other causes (of which the chief are
enumerated in III:lv。Note) ; it may therefore happen that Paul should hate
Peter (Def。 of Emotions: vii。); consequently it may easily happen also; that
Peter should hate Paul in return; and that each should endeavour to do the
other an injury; (III:xxxix。); that is (IV:xxx。); that they should be
contrary one to another。 But the emotion of pain is always a passion
or passive state (III:lix。); hence men; in so far as they are assailed by
emotions which are passions; can be contrary one to another。 Q。E。D。
Note。… I said that Paul may hate Peter; because he conceives that Peter
possesses something which he (Paul) also loves; from this it seems; at first
sight; to follow; that these two men; through both loving the same thing;
and; consequently; through agreement of their respective natures; stand in
one another's way; if this were so; II:xxx。 and II:xxxi。 would be untrue。
But if we give the matter our unbiased attention; we shall see that the
discrepancy vanishes。 For the two men are not in one another's way in
virtue of the agreement of their natures; that is; through both loving the
same thing; but in virtue of one differing from the other。 For; in so far
as each loves the same thing; the love of each is fostered thereby
(III:xxxi。); that is (Def。 of the Emotions: vi。) the pleasure of each is
fostered thereby。 Wherefore it is far from being the case; that they are
at variance through both loving the same thing; and through the agreement
in their natures。 The cause for their opposition lies; as I have said;
solely in the fact that they are assumed to differ。 For we assume that
Peter has the idea of the loved object as already in his possession; while
Paul has the idea of the loved object as lost。 Hence the one man will be
affected with pleasure; the other will be affected with pain; and thus they
will be at variance one with another。 We can easily show in like manner;
that all other causes of hatred depend solely on differences; and not on
the agreement between men's natures。
Prop。 XXXV。 In so far only as men live
in obedience to reason; do they always
necessarily agree in nature。
Proof。… In so far as men are assailed by emotions that are passions; they
can be different in nature (IV:xxxiii。); and at variance one with another。
But men are only said to be active; in so far as they act in obedience to
reason (III:iii。); therefore; what so ever follows from human nature in so
far as it is defined by reason must (III:Def。ii。) be understood solely
through human nature as its proximate cause。 But; since every man by the
laws of his nature desires that which he deems good; and endeavours to
remove that which he deems bad (IV:xix。); and further; since that which we;
in accordance with reason; deem good or bad; necessarily is good
or bad (II:xli。); it follows that men; in so far as they live in obedience
to reason; necessarily do only such things as are necessarily good for
human nature; and consequently for each individual man (IV:xxxi。Coroll。);
in other words; such things as are in harmony with each man's nature。
Therefore; men in so far as they live in obedience to reason; necessarily
live always in harmony one with another。 Q。E。D。
Corollary I … There is no individual thing in nature; which is
more useful to man; than a man who lives in obedience to reason。 For that
thing is to man most useful; which is most in harmony with his nature
(IV:xxxi。Coroll。); that is; obviously; man。 But man acts absolutely
according to the laws of his nature; when he lives in obedience to reason
(III:Def。ii。); and to this extent only is always necessarily in harmony
with the nature of another man (by the last Prop。); wherefore among
individual things nothing is more useful to man; than a man who lives in
obedience to reason。 Q。E。D。
Corollary II。… As every man seeks most that which is useful to him; so are
men most useful one to another。 For the more a man seeks what is useful to
him and endeavours to preserve himself; the more is he endowed with virtue
(IV:xx。); or; what is the same thing (IV:Def。viii。); the more is he endowed
with power to act according to the laws of his own nature; that is to live
in obedience to reason。 But men are most in natural harmony; when they live
in obedience to reason (by the last Prop。); therefore (by the foregoing
Coroll。) men will be most useful one to another; when each seeks most that
which is useful to him。 Q。E。D。
Note。… What we have just shown is attested by experience so conspicuously;
that it is in the mouth of nearly everyone: 〃Man is to man a God。〃 Yet it
rarely happens that men live in obedience to reason; for things are so
ordered among them; that they are generally envious and troublesome one to
another。 Nevertheless they are scarcely able to lead a solitary life;
so that the definition of man as a social animal has met with general
assent; in fact; men do derive from social life much more convenience than
injury。 Let satirists then laugh their fill at human affairs; let
theologians rail; and let misanthropes praise to their utmost the life of
untutored rusticity; let them heap contempt on men and praises on beasts;
when all is said; they will find that men can provide for their wants much
more easily by mutual help; and that only by uniting their forces can they
escape from the dangers that on every side beset them: not to say how much
more excellent and worthy of our knowledge it is; to study the actions of
men than the actions of beasts。 But I will treat of this more at
length elsewhere。
Prop。 XXXVI。 The highest good of those
who follow virtue is common to all;
and therefore all can equally rejoice
therein。
Proof。… To act virtuously is to act in obedience with reason (IV:xxiv。);
and whatsoever we endeavour to do in obedience to reason is to understand
(IV:xxvi。); therefore (IV:xxviii。) the highest good for those who follow
after virtue is to know God; that is (II:xlvii。&Note) a good which is
common to all and can be possessed。 by all men equally; in so far as they
are of the same nature。 Q。E。D。
Note。… Someone may ask how it would be; if the highest good of those who
follow after virtue were not common to all? Would it not then follow; as
above (IV:xxxiv。); that men living in obedience to reason; that is
(IV:xxxv。); men in so far as they agree in nature; would be at variance
one with another? To such an inquiry; I make answer; that it follows not
accidentally but from the very nature of reason; that main's highest good
is common to all; inasmuch as it is deduced from the very essence of man;
in so far as defined by reason; and that a man could neither be; nor be
conceived without the power of taking pleasure in this highest good。 For
it belongs to the essence of the human mind (II:xlvii。); to have an
adequate knowledge of the eternal and infinite essence of God。
Prop。 XXXVII。 The good which every man;
who follows after virtue; desires for
himself he will also desire for other
men; and so much the more; in proportion
as he has a greater knowledge of God。
Proof。… Men; in so far as they live in obedience to reason; are most
useful to their fellow men (IV:xxxv;Coroll。i。); therefore (IV:xix。);
we shall in obedience to reason necessarily endeavour to bring about that
men should live in obedience to reason。 But the good which every man; in
so far as he is guided by reason; or; in other words; follows after virtue;
desires for himself; is to understand (IV:xxvi。); wherefore the good; which
each follower of virtue seeks for himself; he will desire also for others。
Again; desire; in so fa
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