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the ethics(part iii)-第14部分
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in relation to a future time of which he is uncertain。 As;
for instance; if he should say that he is unable to form any
clear conceptions; or that he can desire and do nothing but
what is wicked and base; &c。 We may also say; that a man
thinks too meanly of himself; when we see him from excessive
fear of shame refusing to do things which others; his equals;
venture。 We can; therefore; set down as a contrary to pride
an emotion which I will call self…abasement; for as from
self…complacency springs pride; so from humility springs
self…abasement; which I will accordingly thus define:
XXIX。 〃Self…abasement〃 is thinking too meanly of one's
self by reason of pain。
^^^^^ExplanationWe are nevertheless generally
accustomed to oppose pride to humility; but in that case
we pay more attention to the effect of either emotion than
to its nature。 We are wont to call 〃proud〃 the man who
boasts too much (III。 xxx。 note); who talks of nothing but
his own virtues and other people's faults; who wishes to
be first; and lastly who goes through life with a style and
pomp suitable to those far above him in station。 On the
other hand; we call 〃humble〃 the man who too often blushes;
who confesses his faults; who sets forth other men's virtues;
and who; lastly; walks with bent head and is negligent of
his attire。 However; these emotions; humility and
self…abasement; are extremely rare。 For human nature;
considered in itself; strives against them as much as it can
(see III。 xiii。; liv。); hence those; who are believed to be
most self…abased and humble; are generally in reality the
most ambitious and envious。
XXX。 〃Honour〃 (gloria) is pleasure accompanied by the
idea of some action of our own; which we believe to be
praised by others。
XXXI。 〃Shame〃 is pain accompanied by the idea of
some action of our own; which we believe to be blamed
by others。
^^^^^ExplanationOn this subject see the note to III。 xxx。
But we should here remark the difference which exists
between shame and modesty。 Shame is the pain following
the deed whereof we are ashamed。 Modesty is the fear or
dread of shame; which restrains a man from committing a
base action。 Modesty is usually opposed to shamelessness;
but the latter is not an emotion; as I will duly show; however;
the names of the emotions (as I have remarked already)
have regard rather to their exercise than to their nature。
I have now fulfilled the task of explaining the emotions
arising from pleasure and pain。 I therefore proceed to
treat of those which I refer to desire。
XXXII。 〃Regret〃 is the desire or appetite to possess
something; kept alive by the remembrance of the said thing;
and at the same time constrained by the remembrance
of other things which exclude the existence of it。
^^^^^ExplanationWhen we remember a thing; we are
by that very fact; as I have already said more than once;
disposed to contemplate it with the same emotion as if it
were something present; but this disposition or endeavour;
while we are awake; is generally checked by the images
of things which exclude the existence of that which we
remember。 Thus when we remember something which
affected us with a certain pleasure; we by that very fact
endeavour to regard it with the same emotion of pleasure
as though it were present; but this endeavour is at once
checked by the remembrance of things which exclude the
existence of the thing in question。 Wherefore regret is;
strictly speaking; a pain opposed to that of pleasure;
which arises from the absence of something we hate (cf。
III。 xlvii。 note)。 But; as the name regret seems to refer
to desire; I set this emotion down; among the emotions
springing from desire。
XXXIII。 〃Emulation〃 is the desire of something; engendered
in us by our conception that others have the same desire。
^^^^^ExplanationHe who runs away; because he sees
others running away; or he who fears; because he sees
others in fear; or again; he who; on seeing that another man
has burnt his hand; draws towards him his own hand; and
moves his body as though his own were burnt; such an one
can be said to imitate another's emotion; but not to emulate
him; not because the causes of emulation and imitation are
different; but because it has become customary to speak
of emulation only in him; who imitates that which we deem
to be honourable; useful; or pleasant。 As to the cause of
emulation; cf。 III。 xxvii。 and note。 The reason why this
emotion is generally coupled with envy may be seen from
III。 xxxii。 and note。
XXXIV。 〃Thankfulness〃 or 〃Gratitude〃 is the desire or
zeal springing from love; whereby we endeavour to benefit
him; who with similar feelings of love has conferred a benefit
on us。 Cf。 III。 xxxix。 note and xl。
XXXV。 〃Benevolence〃 is the desire of benefiting one whom
we pity。 Cf。 III。 xxvii。 note。
XXXVI。 〃Anger〃 is the desire; whereby through hatred we
are induced to injure one whom we hate; III。 xxxix。
XXXVII。 〃Revenge〃 is the desire whereby we are induced;
through mutual hatred; to injure one who; with similar
feelings; has injured us。 (See III。 xl。 Cor。 ii。 and note。)
XXXVIII。 〃Cruelty〃 or 〃savageness〃 is the desire; whereby
a man is impelled to injure one whom we love or pity。
^^^^^ExplanationTo cruelty is opposed clemency; which
is not a passive state of the mind; but a power whereby man
restrains his anger and revenge。
XXXIX。 〃Timidity〃 is the desire to avoid a greater evil;
which we dread; by undergoing a lesser evil。 Cf。 III。 xxxix。
note。
XL。 〃Daring〃 is the desire; whereby a man is set on to do
something dangerous which his equals fear to attempt。
XLI。 〃Cowardice〃 is attributed to one; whose desire is
checked by the fear of some danger which his equals dare
to encounter。
^^^^^ExplanationCowardice is; therefore; nothing else
but the fear of some evil; which most men are wont not to
fear; hence I do not reckon it among the emotions springing
from desire。 Nevertheless; I have chosen to explain it
here; because; in so far as we look to the desire; it is truly
opposed to the emotion of daring。
XLII。 〃Consternation〃 is attributed to one; whose desire of
avoiding evil is checked by amazement at the evil which he
fears。
^^^^^ExplanationConsternation is; therefore; a species
of cowardice。 But; inasmuch as consternation arises from
a double fear; it may be more conveniently defined as a
fear which keeps a man so bewildered and wavering; that
he is not able to remove the evil。 I say bewildered; in so
far as we understand his desire of removing the evil to be
constrained by his amazement。 I say wavering; in so far
as we understand the said desire to be constrained by the
fear of another evil; which equally torments him: whence
it comes to pass that he knows not; which he may avert
of the two。 On this subject; see III。 xxxix。 note; and III。
lii。 note。 Concerning cowardice and daring; see III。 li。
note。
XLIII。 〃Courtesy;〃 or 〃deference〃 (Humanitas seu
modestia); is the desire of acting in a way that should
please men; and refraining from that which should
displease them。
XLIV。 〃Ambition〃 is the immoderate desire of power。
^^^^^ExplanationAmbition is the desire; whereby all the
emotions (cf。 III。 xxvii。 and xxxi。) are fostered and
strengthened; therefore this emotion can with difficulty be
overcome。 For; so long as a man is bound by any desire;
he is at the same time necessarily bound by this。 〃The best
men;〃 says Cicero; 〃are especially led by honour。 Even
philosophers; when they write a book contemning honour;
sign their names thereto;〃 and so on。
XLV。 〃Luxury〃 is excessive desire; or even love of living
sumptuously。
XLVI。 〃Intemperance〃 is the excessive desire and love
of drinking。
XLVII。 〃Avarice〃 is the excessive desire and love of riches。
XLVIII。 〃Lust〃 is desire and love in the matter of sexual
intercourse。
^^^^^ExplanationWhether this desire be excessive or
not; it is still called lust。 These last five emotions (as I have
shown in III。 lvi。) have on contraries。 For deference is a
species of ambition。 Cf。 III。 xxix。 note。
Again; I have already pointed out; that temperance; sobriety;
and chastity indicate rather a power than a passivity of the
mind。 It may; nevertheless; happen; that an avaricious; an
ambitious; or a timid man may abstain from excess in eating;
drinking; or sexual indulgence; yet avarice; ambition; and fear
are not contraries to luxury; drunkenness; and debauchery。
For an avaricious man often is glad to gorge himself with
food and drink at another man's expense。 An ambitious
man will restrain himself in nothing; so long as he thinks his
indulgences are secret; and if he lives among drunkards
and debauchees; he will; from the mere fact of being
ambitious; be more prone to those vices。 Lastly; a timid
man does that which he would not。 For though an
avaricious man should; for the sake of avoiding death;
cast his riches into the sea; he will none the less remain
avaricious; so; also; if a lustful man is downcast
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