Moderator: Aldus Marius
Titus Marius Crispus wrote:If people would not do wrong if they knew they were doing wrong, how is it that I can purposely blaspheme the name of God, knowing that, if God exists, it is Wrong to do so? Does this prove that God does not exist? For, if he does, I am committing wrong even though I know it is wrong.
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:Mi Draco, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. How can a person mentally know that they are doing wrong, but not understand emotionally?
I also fail to see how Atticus' claims invalidate my point about knowing and *knowing*. In fact, the fact that some people come up with excuses to justify their behaviour supports my claim - deep down, they really *know* what they do is not right, but they come up with excuses.
Real knowledge is not the same as ordinary knowledge. I happened to meet a peasant who had been wounded by a tigre. When someone spoke about a tigre attacking people, everyone was frightened, yet only the peasant's face changed in a very particular way. No one, not even a small child, ignores the fact that a tigre can tear apart a man, but this is not yet real knowledge. The only knowledge that counts is one like the peasant's. Even so, those who persist in doing what they recognise as bad have not yet acquired real knowledge : if they had it, they would certainly not do it (to act badly) ever again. One must start from the basis of knowledge. As soon as is has acquired depth, [correct] action cannot but ensue. It has never been seen that someone had knowledge without being able to render it into action. Knowledge that cannot be rendered into action only demonstrates its own superficiality. If people, even when they are starved, abstain from eating poisonous plants [...] it is because they know (they are bad). When they act badly, it is because they do not know.
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As soon as one is capable of knowing and seeing [the principle], how could one not act [according to this knowledge] ? As soon as every action is done as it should be done, it is no longer necessary to intervene intentionally. If such a need exists, it is because the mind is under the spell of the ego.
Quintus Pomponius Atticus wrote:What do you think of this text, mi Draco ?
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