FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1183   1184   1185   1186   1187   1188   1189   1190   1191   1192   1193   1194   1195   1196   1197   1198   1199   1200   1201   1202   1203   1204   1205   1206   1207  
1208   1209   1210   1211   1212   1213   1214   1215   1216   1217   1218   1219   1220   1221   1222   1223   1224   1225   1226   1227   1228   1229   1230   1231   1232   >>   >|  
ouch. Wherefore it follows that temperance is about pleasures of touch. Reply Obj. 1: In the passage quoted Augustine apparently takes temperance, not as a special virtue having a determinate matter, but as concerned with the moderation of reason, in any matter whatever: and this is a general condition of every virtue. However, we may also reply that if a man can control the greatest pleasures, much more can he control lesser ones. Wherefore it belongs chiefly and properly to temperance to moderate desires and pleasures of touch, and secondarily other pleasures. Reply Obj. 2: The Philosopher takes temperance as denoting moderation in external things, when, to wit, a man tends to that which is proportionate to him, but not as denoting moderation in the soul's emotions, which pertains to the virtue of temperance. Reply Obj. 3: The pleasures of the other senses play a different part in man and in other animals. For in other animals pleasures do not result from the other senses save in relation to sensibles of touch: thus the lion is pleased to see the stag, or to hear its voice, in relation to his food. On the other hand man derives pleasure from the other senses, not only for this reason, but also on account of the becomingness of the sensible object. Wherefore temperance is about the pleasures of the other senses, in relation to pleasures of touch, not principally but consequently: while in so far as the sensible objects of the other senses are pleasant on account of their becomingness, as when a man is pleased at a well-harmonized sound, this pleasure has nothing to do with the preservation of nature. Hence these passions are not of such importance that temperance can be referred to them antonomastically. Reply Obj. 4: Although spiritual pleasures are by their nature greater than bodily pleasures, they are not so perceptible to the senses, and consequently they do not so strongly affect the sensitive appetite, against whose impulse the good of reason is safeguarded by moral virtue. We may also reply that spiritual pleasures, strictly speaking, are in accordance with reason, wherefore they need no control, save accidentally, in so far as one spiritual pleasure is a hindrance to another greater and more binding. Reply Obj. 5: Not all pleasures of touch regard the preservation of nature, and consequently it does not follow that temperance is about all pleasures of touch. _______________________ FIFTH ARTICLE
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1183   1184   1185   1186   1187   1188   1189   1190   1191   1192   1193   1194   1195   1196   1197   1198   1199   1200   1201   1202   1203   1204   1205   1206   1207  
1208   1209   1210   1211   1212   1213   1214   1215   1216   1217   1218   1219   1220   1221   1222   1223   1224   1225   1226   1227   1228   1229   1230   1231   1232   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

pleasures

 

temperance

 

senses

 

virtue

 

reason

 
spiritual
 
moderation
 

Wherefore

 
relation
 

pleasure


control

 

nature

 

denoting

 

animals

 

pleased

 

preservation

 

becomingness

 

account

 

matter

 

greater


importance

 

passions

 
pleasant
 

referred

 

objects

 
principally
 

harmonized

 

accidentally

 

hindrance

 

speaking


accordance
 

wherefore

 

binding

 

follow

 
ARTICLE
 

regard

 

strictly

 

bodily

 
perceptible
 

strongly


Although
 

antonomastically

 

affect

 

sensitive

 

safeguarded

 

impulse

 

object

 

appetite

 

result

 

greatest