3ad4e.md (1326B)
1 In the note to II. xviii. we showed the reason, 2 why the mind, from the contemplation of one thing, straightway 3 falls to the contemplation of another thing, namely, because the 4 images of the two things are so associated and arranged, that one 5 follows the other. This state of association is impossible, if 6 the image of the thing be new; the mind will then be at a stand 7 in the contemplation thereof, until it is determined by other 8 causes to think of something else. 9 10 Thus the conception of a new object, considered in itself, is 11 of the same nature as other conceptions; hence, I do not include 12 wonder among the emotions, nor do I see why I should so include 13 it, inasmuch as this distraction of the mind arises from no 14 positive cause drawing away the mind from other objects, but 15 merely from the absence of a cause, which should determine the 16 mind to pass from the contemplation of one object to the 17 contemplation of another. 18 19 I, therefore, recognize only three primitive or primary 20 emotions (as I said in the note to III. xi.), namely, pleasure, 21 pain, and desire. I have spoken of wonder simply because it is 22 customary to speak of certain emotions springing from the three 23 primitive ones by different names, when they are referred to the 24 objects of our wonder. I am led by the same motive to add a 25 definition of contempt. 26 27