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[GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE EMOTIONS]
(Gen:1) Emotion, which is called a passivity of the soul, is a confused
idea whereby the mind affirms concerning its body, or any part thereof,
a force for existence (existendi vis) greater or less than before, and
by the presence of which the mind is determined to think of one thing
rather than another.
Explanation.- (Gen:2) I say, first, that emotion or passion of the soul
is a confused idea. (3) For we have shown that the mind is only passive,
in so far as it has inadequate or confused ideas. ([iii] )
(4) I say, further, whereby the mind affirms concerning its body or any
part thereof a force for existence greater than before. (5) For all the
ideas of bodies, which we possess, denote rather the actual disposition
of our own body ([xvi] Coroll.ii.) than the nature of an external
body. (6) But the idea which constitutes the reality of an emotion must
denote or express the disposition of the body, or of some part thereof,
which is possessed by the body, or some part thereof, because its power
of action or force for existence is increased or diminished, helped or
hindered. (Gen:7) But it must be noted that, when I say a greater or
less force for existence than before, I do not mean that the mind
compares the present with the past disposition of the body, but that
the idea which constitutes the reality of an emotion affirms of the
body, which, in fact, involves more or less of reality than before.
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