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第17章

the ethics(part iv)-第17章

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XIX。 Again; meretricious love; that is; the lust of generation arising 



from bodily beauty; and generally every sort of love; which owns anything 



save freedom of soul as its cause; readily passes into hate; unless indeed; 



what is worse; it is a species of madness; and then it promotes discord 



rather than harmony (cf。 III:xxxi。Coroll。)。







XX。 As concerning marriage; it is certain that this is in harmony with 



reason; if the desire for physical union be not engendered solely by 



bodily beauty; but also by the desire to beget children and to train them 



up wisely; and moreover; if the love of both; to wit; of the man and of 



the woman; is not caused by bodily beauty only; but also by freedom of soul。







XXI。 Furthermore; flattery begets harmony; but only by means of the vile 



offence of slavishness or treachery。 None are more readily taken with 



flattery than the proud; who wish to be first; but are not。







XXII。 There is in abasement a spurious appearance of piety and 



religion。 Although abasement is the opposite to pride; yet is he that 



abases himself most akin to the proud (IV:lvii。Note)。







XXIII。 Shame also brings about harmony; but only in such matters as cannot 



be hid。 Further; as shame is a species of pain; it does not concern the 



exercise of reason。 







XXIV。 The remaining emotions of pain towards men are directly opposed



to justice; equity; honour; piety; and religion; and; although 



indignation seems to bear a certain resemblance to equity; yet is life 



but lawless; where every man may pass judgment on another's deeds; and 



vindicate his own or other men's rights。 







XXV。 Correctness of conduct (modestia); that is; the desire of pleasing 



men which is determined by reason; is attributable to piety (as we said 



in IV:xxxvii。Note。i。)。 But; if it spring from emotion; it is ambition; 



or the desire whereby; men; under the false cloak of piety; generally 



stir up discords and seditions。 For he who desires to aid his fellows。 



either in word or in deed; so that they may together enjoy the highest 



good; he; I say; will before all things strive to; win them over with 



love: not to draw them into admiration; so that a system may be called 



after his name; nor to give any cause for envy。 Further; in his 



conversation he will shrink from talking of men's faults; and will be 



careful to speak but sparingly of human infirmity: but he will dwell at 



length on human virtue or power; and the way whereby it may be perfected。 



Thus will men be stirred not by fear; nor by aversion; but only by the 



emotion of joy; to endeavour; so far as in them lies; to live in 



obedience to reason。







XXVI。 Besides men; we know of no particular thing in nature in whose mind 



we may rejoice; and whom we can associate with ourselves in friendship or 



any sort of fellowship; therefore; whatsoever there be in nature besides 



man; a regard for our advantage does not call on us to preserve; but to 



preserve or destroy according to its various capabilities; and to adapt 



to our use as best we may。







XXVII。 The advantage which we derive from things external to us; besides 



the experience and knowledge which we acquire from observing them; and 



from recombining their elements in different forms; is principally the 



preservation of the body; from this point of view; those things are most 



useful which can so feed and nourish the body; that all its parts may 



rightly fulfil their functions。 For; in proportion as the body is capable 



of being affected in a greater variety of ways; and of affecting external 



bodies in a great number of ways; so much the more is the mind capable of 



thinking (IV:xxxviii。; IV:xxxix。)。 But there seem to be very few things 



of this kind in nature; wherefore for the due nourishment of the body we 



must use many foods of diverse nature。 For the human body is composed of 



very many parts of different nature; which stand in continual need of 



varied nourishment; so that the whole body may be equally capable of 



doing everything that can follow from its own nature; and consequently 



that the mind also may be equally capable of forming many perceptions。







XXVIII。 Now for providing these nourishments the strength of each 



individual would hardly suffice; if men did not lend one another mutual 



aid。 But money has furnished us with a token for everything: hence it is 



with the notion of money; that the mind of the multitude is chiefly 



engrossed: nay; it can hardly conceive any kind of pleasure; which is not 



accompanied with the idea of money as cause。







XXIX。 This result is the fault only of those; who seek money; not from 



poverty or to supply their necessary; wants; but because they; have 



learned the arts of gain; wherewith they bring themselves to great 



splendour。 Certainly they nourish their bodies; according to custom; but 



scantily; believing that they lose as much of their wealth as they spend on 



the preservation of their body。 But they who know the true use of money; 



and who fix the measure of wealth solely with regard to their actual needs; 



live content with little。







XXX。 As; therefore; those things are good which assist the various parts 



of the body; and enable them to perform their functions; and as pleasure 



consists in an increase of; or aid to; man's power; in so far as he is 



composed of mind and body; it follows that all those things which bring 



pleasure are good。 But seeing that things do not work with the object of 



giving us pleasure; and that their power of action is not tempered to suit 



our advantage; and; lastly; that pleasure is generally referred to one 



part of the body more than to the other parts; therefore most emotions of 



pleasure (unless reason and watchfulness be at hand); and consequently the 



desires arising therefrom; may become excessive。 Moreover we may add that 



emotion leads us to pay most regard to what is agreeable in the present; 



nor can we estimate what is future with emotions equally vivid。 



(IV:xliv。Note; and IV:lx。Note。)







XXXI。 Superstition; on the other hand; seems to account as good all that 



brings pain; and as bad all that brings pleasure。 However; as we said 



above (IV:xlv。Note); none but the envious take delight in my infirmity 



and trouble。 For the greater the pleasure whereby we are affected; the 



greater is the perfection whereto we pass; and consequently the more do 



we partake of the divine nature: no pleasure can ever be evil; which is 



regulated by a true regard for our advantage。 But contrariwise he; who is 



led by fear and does good only to avoid evil; is not guided by reason。







Ap。XXXII。 (1) But human power is extremely limited; and is infinitely 



surpassed by the power of external causes; we have not; therefore; an 



absolute power of shaping to our use those things which are without us。  



Nevertheless; we shall bear with an equal mind all that happens to us 



in contravention to the claims of our own advantage; so long as we are 



conscious; that we have done our duty; and that the power which we possess 



is not sufficient to enable us to protect ourselves completely; 



remembering that we are a part of universal nature; and that we 



follow her order。 If we have a clear and distinct understanding of 



this; that part of our nature which is defined by intelligence; in other 



words the better part of ourselves; will assuredly acquiesce in what 



befalls us; and in such acquiescence will endeavour to persist。 For; 



in so far as we are intelligent beings; we cannot desire anything save 



that which is necessary; nor yield absolute acquiescence to anything; 



save to that which is true: wherefore; in so far as we have a right 



understanding of these things; the endeavour of the better par

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