The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
The train of regulated thoughts is of two kinds; one, when of an effect
imagined we seek the causes, or means that produce it: and this is
common to man and beast. The other is, when imagining any thing
whatsoever, we seek all the possible effects, that can by it be
produced; that is to say, we imagine what we can do with it, when we
have it. Of which I have not at any time seen any sign, but in man only;
for this is a curiosity hardly incident to the nature of any living
creature that has no other passion but sensual, such as are hunger,
thirst, lust, and anger. In sum, the discourse of the mind, when it is
governed by design, is nothing but _seeking_, or the faculty of
invention, which the Latins called _sagacitas_, and _solertia_; a
hunting out of the causes, of some effect, present or past; or of the
effects, of some present or past cause. Sometimes a man seeks what he
hath lost; and from that place, and time, wherein he misses it, his mind
runs back, from place to place, and time to time, to find where, and
when he had it; that is to say, to find some certain, and limited time
and place, in which to begin a method of seeking. Again, from thence,
his thoughts run over the same places and times, to find what action, or
other occasion might make him lose it. [Sidenote: Remembrance.] This we
call _remembrance_, or calling to mind: the Latins call it
_reminiscentia_, as it were a _re-conning_ of our former actions.
[Sidenote: Prudence.]
Sometimes a man knows a place determinate, within the compass whereof he
is to seek; and then his thoughts run over all the parts thereof, in the
same manner as one would sweep a room, to find a jewel; or as a spaniel
ranges the field, till he find a scent; or as a man should run over the
alphabet, to start a rhyme.