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Objection 1: It would seem that expansion is not an effect of
pleasure. For expansion seems to pertain more to love, according to
the Apostle (2 Cor. 6:11): "Our heart is enlarged."
Wherefore it is written (Ps. 118:96) concerning the precept
of charity: "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." But pleasure is
a distinct passion from love. Therefore expansion is not an effect of
pleasure.
Objection 2: Further, when a thing expands it is enabled to receive
more. But receiving pertains to desire, which is for something not
yet possessed. Therefore expansion seems to belong to desire rather
than to pleasure.
Objection 3: Further, contraction is contrary to expansion. But
contraction seems to belong to pleasure, for the hand closes on that
which we wish to grasp firmly: and such is the affection of appetite in
regard to that which pleases it. Therefore expansion does not pertain
to pleasure.
On the contrary, In order to express joy, it is written (Is.
60:5): "Thou shall see and abound, thy heart shall wonder and
be enlarged." Moreover pleasure is called by the name of "laetitia"
as being derived from "dilatatio" [expansion], as stated above
(Question 31, Article 3, ad 3).
I answer that, Breadth [latitudo] is a dimension of bodily
magnitude: hence it is not applied to the emotions of the soul, save
metaphorically. Now expansion denotes a kind of movement towards
breadth; and it belongs to pleasure in respect of the two things
requisite for pleasure. One of these is on the part of the
apprehensive power, which is cognizant of the conjunction with some
suitable good. As a result of this apprehension, man perceives that
he has attained a certain perfection, which is a magnitude of the
spiritual order: and in this respect man's mind is said to be
magnified or expanded by pleasure. The other requisite for pleasure is
on the part of the appetitive power, which acquiesces in the
pleasurable object, and rests therein, offering, as it were, to
enfold it within itself. And thus man's affection is expanded by
pleasure, as though it surrendered itself to hold within itself the
object of its pleasure.
Reply to Objection 1: In metaphorical expressions nothing hinders
one and the same thing from being attributed to different things
according to different likenesses. And in this way expansion pertains
to love by reason of a certain spreading out, in so far as the
affection of the lover spreads out to others, so as to care, not only
for his own interests, but also for what concerns others. On the
other hand expansion pertains to pleasure, in so far as a thing becomes
more ample in itself so as to become more capacious.
Reply to Objection 2: Desire includes a certain expansion arising
from the imagination of the thing desired; but this expansion increases
at the presence of the pleasurable object: because the mind surrenders
itself more to that object when it is already taking pleasure in it,
than when it desires it before possessing it; since pleasure is the end
of desire.
Reply to Objection 3: He that takes pleasure in a thing holds it
fast, by clinging to it with all his might: but he opens his heart to
it that he may enjoy it perfectly.
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