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Old October 28th, 2005, 09:14 AM
AndyFletcher AndyFletcher is offline
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Question Self-Control of Thought

Quote from Augustine of Hippo, excert from his work on thought sin:

"Sometimes the action itself, which results in delectation, is the object of delectation, in so far as the appetitive power, to which it belongs to take delight in anything, is brought to bear on the action itself as a good: for instance, when a man thinks and delights in his thought, in so far as his thought pleases him; while at other times the delight consequent to an action, e.g. a thought, has for its object another action, as being the object of his thought; and then his thought proceeds from the inclination of the appetite, not indeed to the thought, but to the action thought of. Accordingly a man who is thinking of fornication, may delight in either of two things: first, in the thought itself, secondly, in the fornication thought of."

How is the former accomplished in the bold script above?

How would one distinguish between the thought itself and that which is thought of?. If possible, is the control of it simple?

Thanks.
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