(5) I am in this place expressly speaking of a man living
under the guidance of reason. (50:6) He who is moved to help others
neither by reason nor by compassion, is rightly styled inhuman, for
(III:[xxvii] ) he seems unlike a man.
Prop. [LI] Approval is not repugnant to reason, but
can agree therewith and arise therefrom.
Proof.- (51:1) Approval is love towards one who has done good to another
(III:[De.xix] ); therefore it may be referred to the mind, in so far as
the latter is active (III:[lix] ), that is (III:[iii] ), in so far as it
- understands; therefore, it is in agreement with reason, &c. Q.E.D.
Another Proof.- (51:2) He, who lives under the guidance of reason, desires
for others the good which he seeks for himself ([xxxvii] ); wherefore from
seeing someone doing good to his fellow his own endeavour to do good is
aided; in other words, he will feel pleasure (III:[xi] Note) accompanied
by the idea of the benefactor. (3) Therefore he approves of him. Q.E.D.
Note.- (51:4) Indignation as we defined it (III:[De.xx] ) is necessarily
evil ([xlv] ); we may, however, remark that, when the sovereign power for
the sake of preserving peace punishes a citizen who has injured another,
it should not be said to be indignant with the criminal, for it is not
incited by hatred to ruin him, it is led by a sense of duty to punish him.
Prop.
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