“ But pleasure is, in a way, contrary to desire, on the part of the object: since desire regards a good which is not yet possessed, whereas pleasure regards the good that is possessed. Therefore pleasure does not cause desire for itself. ”
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1274). copy citation
Author | Thomas Aquinas |
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Source | Summa Theologica |
Topic | pleasure desire |
Date | 1274 |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province |
Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17897/pg17897-images.html |
Context
“But pleasure is, as it were, a certain repose of the movement of desire, as stated above (Q. 23, A. 4; Q. 25, A. 2). Therefore the movement of desire ceases when pleasure is reached. Therefore pleasure does not cause desire.
Obj. 2: Further, a thing does not cause its contrary. But pleasure is, in a way, contrary to desire, on the part of the object: since desire regards a good which is not yet possessed, whereas pleasure regards the good that is possessed. Therefore pleasure does not cause desire for itself. Obj. 3: Further, distaste is incompatible with desire. But pleasure often causes distaste. Therefore it does not cause desire.
On the contrary, Our Lord said (John 4:13) : "Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again": where, according to Augustine (Tract. xv in Joan.) , water denotes pleasures of the body.
” source
Obj. 2: Further, a thing does not cause its contrary. But pleasure is, in a way, contrary to desire, on the part of the object: since desire regards a good which is not yet possessed, whereas pleasure regards the good that is possessed. Therefore pleasure does not cause desire for itself. Obj. 3: Further, distaste is incompatible with desire. But pleasure often causes distaste. Therefore it does not cause desire.
On the contrary, Our Lord said (John 4:13) : "Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again": where, according to Augustine (Tract. xv in Joan.) , water denotes pleasures of the body.
” source