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 Latin tongue has two words, whose significations approach to those
of good and evil; but are not precisely the same; and those are
_pulchrum_ and _turpe_. Whereof the former signifies that, which by some
apparent signs promiseth good; and the latter, that which promiseth
evil. But in our tongue we have not so general names to express them by.
But for _pulchrum_ we say in some things, _fair_; in others,
_beautiful_, or _handsome_, or _gallant_, or _honourable_, or _comely_,
or _amiable_; and for _turpe_, _foul_, _deformed_, _ugly_, _base_,
_nauseous_, and the like, as the subject shall require; all which words,
in their proper places, signify nothing else but the _mien_, or
countenance, that promiseth good and evil. So that of good there be
three kinds; good in the promise, that is _pulchrum_; good in effect, as
the end desired, which is called _jucundum_, [Sidenote: Delightful.
Profitable. Unpleasant. Unprofitable.] _delightful_; and good as the
means, which is called _utile_, _profitable_; and as many of evil: for
_evil_ in promise, is that they call _turpe_; evil in effect, and end,
is _molestum_, _unpleasant_, _troublesome_; and evil in the means,
_inutile_, _unprofitable_, _hurtful_.
[Sidenote: Delight. Displeasure.]
As, in sense, that which is really within us, is, as I have said before,
only motion, caused by the action of external objects, but in apparence;
to the sight, light and colour; to the ear, sound; to the nostril,
odour, &c.: so, when the action of the same object is continued from the
eyes, ears, and other organs to the heart, the real effect there is
nothing but motion, or endeavour; which consisteth in appetite, or
aversion, to or from the object moving. But the apparence, or sense of
that motion, is that we either call _delight_, or _trouble of mind_.
[Sidenote: Pleasure.]
This motion, which is called appetite, and for the apparence of it
_delight_, and _pleasure_, seemeth to be a corroboration of vital
motion, and a help thereunto; and therefore such things as caused
delight, were not improperly called _jucunda_, _à juvando_, from helping
or fortifying; [Sidenote: Offence.] and the contrary, _molesta_,
_offensive_, from hindering, and troubling the motion vital.
_Pleasure_ therefore, or _delight_, is the apparence, or sense of good;
and _molestation_, or _displeasure_, the apparence, or sense of evil.
And consequently all appetite, desire, and love, is accompanied with
some delight more or less; and all hatred and aversion, with more or
less displeasure and offence.
[Sidenote: Pleasures of sense.]