Chapter 5: Tendencies, Sentiments, and Passions Flashcards
2 PRINCIPLES of ACTION in a Single Person
1) Nature
2) Freedom
VOLUNTAS UT NATURA
The natural inclination of a nature towards its good (intelligible good in humans) -Aquinas
DESIRES
(aka. impulses, tendencies) - the forms in which man manifests his vital needs in his dialogue with the world (to every need there is an impulse and vice versa).
3 Groups NATURAL INCLINATIONS (Aquinas)
1) Common to Living Beings
2) Common to Animals
3) Proper to Man as Rational Being
Natural Inclinations Common to LIVING BEINGS
Conservation of Life, Self-Defence, Nutrition (vegetative-shared with plants)
Natural Inclinations Common to ANIMALS
Reproduction, Care of Offspring, (Shared with Animals)
Natural Inclinations Proper to Man as RATIONAL BEING
Sociality, Friendship, Love, Metaphysical Transcendence (proper to man as rational being)
TENDENCIES as used by Empirical Psychology
the DYNAMISM that is at the base of HUMAN CONDUCT (as opposed to Aquinas’ metaphysical “natural inclinations”)
Characteristics of Tendencies (as used by empirical psychology)
1) Psychological reflection of the “VITAL LAW” of the communication between man and the world. Render our needs known to us.
2) Experienced as a movement from the state of need to a future state of satisfaction
3) AIM at a particular GOAL/purpose
4) APPEAR as something IMPOSED on/given to us. They have a PASSIVE character.
3 Groups of TENDENCIES
1) Vitality
2) “I” Individual
3) Transitive
Tendencies of VITALITY
- ACTIVITY
- PLEASURE
- SEXUAL TENDENCY
(ordered towards life, and the preservation of life – also has a strong link with the transitive tendency to love – to self transcendence through the giving of oneself to the other in love) - “VIVENTIAL” (Self Realization)
Tendencies of “I” INDIVIDUAL
- SELF CONSERVATION
- POSSESSION
- For POWER
- To Be ESTEEMED BY OTHERS
- For REVENGE
- For SELF ESTEEM
TRANSITIVE Tendencies
- BEING WITH OTHERS
- BEING FOR OTHERS
- CREATIVITY
- DESIRE TO KNOW
- TO LOVE AND BE LOVED
- NORMATIVE TENDENCY (toward abstract goods: truth, justice, solidarity, etc.)
- TRANSCENDENTAL TENDENCY ( artistic impulse, metaphysical aspiration, religion, etc.)
EMOTIONS and SENTIMENTS
the interior resonance of the tendencies subsequent to perception
SENTIMENTS Linked to Tendencies of VITALITY
- PLEASURE
- PAIN
- BORDEM
- FUN
- WORRY
- PANIC
SENTIMENTS Linked to Tendencies of “I” INDIVIDUAL
- AGITATION
- TRUST
- MISTRUST
- JEALOUSY
- DISCONTENT
- FEELING of INFERIORITY
- REVENGE
- SHAME
- ETC.
SENTIMENTS Linked to TRANSITIVE Tendencies
- SYMPATHY
- LOVE
- HATE
- RESPECT
- CONTEMPT
- ESTEEM
- COMPASSION
- ETC.
PASSIONS
the ACTS of the SENSIBLE APPETITES (Aquinas)
3 Ways Distinguish Passions
1) According to SENSIBLE FACULTY
2) According to OBJECT of Passions
3) Applying only to IRASCIBLE Appetites
According to SENSIBLE FACULTY
CONCUPISCIBLE or IRASCIBLE
Concupiscible: impulse toward sense pleasure
Irascible: aggressive impulse (difficult pleasure to be attained, or the evil to be avoided)
[Hardon: sense faculty that is aroused to resist an impending danger.]
According to OBJECT of Passions
1) Absent Pleasure - desire
2) Present Pleasure - joy
3) Present Evil - sadness
4) Absent Evil - flight
Applying only to IRASCIBLE Appetites
1) A Good that is Hard to reach, but POSSIBLE - Hope
2) The Loss of the same Good - Discouragement
Why every appetite searches for its Proper Object, Independently or in Rational Order….
Concupiscence
VALUE of SENTIMENTS depends on…
1) TRUTH or FALSITY of the evaluation they contain:
2) CORRECTNESS or INCORRECTNESS of the behavior suggested by passions:
3) INTENSITY and CONTENT
TRUTH or FALSITY of the evaluation they contain
- TRUTH: judging good act to be good
- FALSITY: judging bad act to be good
CORRECTNESS or INCORRECTNESS of the behavior suggested by passions:
- CORRECTNESS: if leads to good Moral Behavior
- INCORRECTNESS: if leads to Bad Behavior
INTENSITY and CONTENT
influences the QUALITY of the Passion
How to EDUCATE SENTIMENTS
1) Interpret
2) Evaluate
3) Direct or Correct
[Educating Sentiments]
INTERPRET
understand WHY this passion is Influencing Me
[Educating Sentiments]
EVALUATE
Put the good or evil that we are affectively experiencing in RELATION to GLOBAL GOOD of the Christian View
[Educating Sentiments]
DIRECT of CORRECT
- ACCEPT the sentiment if it’s direction is Good.
- MODIFY or REJECT if its direction is Bad
ANTECEDENT PASSIONS
Happen BEFORE the ACT of the WILL
[Antecedent Passions]
How INFLUENCE the WILL
1) THROUGH the INTELLECT: present Act as something good to do. It is DISORDERED if it presents an act as good that the Person Normally and Habitually Judges as BAD.
2) THROUGH the WILL: it Weakens it by Exhausting the person so he Loses some of his Self Control and acts Less VOLUNTARILY
CONCOMITANT PASSIONS
Happen at the SAME TIME as the Act of the Will
CONSEQUENT PASSIONS
Happen AFTER the Act of the Will
