Dialogues of Love

...to love and to desire, so that in such a definition you might include all three kinds of them.

PHILO. It is not so easy to define love and desire with a definition suited to all their species as it seems to you, for their nature is found differently in each of them; nor do we read that the ancient philosophers have given them such an ample definition. Nevertheless, for what harmonizes with our present discussion, I define original: diffinire. Philo is offering a working definition for the sake of their dialogue. desire as a voluntary affection original: affetto uolontario. A movement or inclination of the will toward an object. for the being or the possession of a thing esteemed good that is lacking; and I define love as a voluntary affection to enjoy through union the thing esteemed good. From these definitions, you will know not only the difference between these affections of the will—that one (as I told you) is to enjoy the thing through union, and the other is for its being or possession—but you will also see through them that desire is for things that are lacking. Nevertheless, love can be for those things that one has, and also for those that one does not have; for enjoying through union can be an affection of the will both in the things we lack and in those we possess, because such an affection presupposes neither a habit original: habito. In this context, a "habit" refers to a settled disposition or the stable possession of a quality or virtue. nor any lack; rather, it is common to both.

SOPHIA. Even though such definitions would need a broader explanation, it is enough for me as an introduction to what I am asking you regarding the cause of the diversity found in loving and desiring among the three kinds you mentioned: the Useful, the Pleasurable, and the Virtuous original: honesto. Derived from the Latin honestum, this refers to moral goodness, or that which is worthy of honor and pursued for its own sake.. Proceed then.

PHILO. The useful—such as wealth and particular goods of acquisition—are never loved and desired at the same time. On the contrary, when they are not...