"Vice: Whatever was passion in the contemplation of man, being brought forth by his will into action"
About this Quote
The quote by James Harrington, "Vice: Whatever was enthusiasm in the consideration of guy, being brought forth by his will into action", offers a profound expedition into the nature of vice and human behavior. Harrington recommends that vice is born from the enthusiasms that reside within human contemplation-- those deep feelings and desires that inhabit our inner thoughts. When these enthusiasms are acted upon, through the instrument of human will, they change from mere contemplative states into tangible actions.
In this context, Harrington may be talking about the intrinsic link between idea and action. Every vice comes from the mind, where enthusiasms and desires simmer. These enthusiasms can include a wide range of emotions or inclinations, such as greed, envy, or desire, which may exist innocuously in thought but become problematic when manifested in behavior. The crucial element that transitions a passion into vice is the will, the conscious decision-making professors that chooses to bring these internal reflections into the external world through actions.
Additionally, Harrington's statement suggests a specific responsibility that includes human firm. While enthusiasms might dwell within us naturally, acting on them is an option. By determining will as a driver for vice, Harrington implicitly acknowledges the potential for self-control and moral decision-making. Instead of being passive victims to their dispositions, people are active individuals in their ethical condition, endowed with the capability to pick restraint over extravagance.
This philosophical interpretation aligns with wider themes in ethical viewpoint that talk about the struggle between factor and enthusiasm, deliberation and impulse. By framing vice in regards to human will and action, Harrington welcomes a reflection on how people can govern their inner worlds and the ethical ramifications of stopping working to do so. In general, this quote works as a pointer of the value of self-awareness and intentionality in the pursuit of virtue.