The Incomplete Characterization of Motives
In Confessions, Augustine stated that the motive behind all actions was lust of different types. He divided lust into three categories: lust for domination, lust of the eyes, and lust for sensuality. Augustine defined lust for domination as the desire to control people or properties. Lust of the eyes was the desire to satiate the senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Augustine argued that lust for sensuality was the desire for enjoyment, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure. Augustine told many stories and gave explanations to exemplify his points. However, one autobiographical story regarding Augustine stealing pears, in which he stole from a neighbor’s orchard, does not …show more content…
Augustine confessed that “I stole something which I had in plenty and of much better quality.” This showed that Augustine did not steal the pears out of the desire to control them, since he already possessed many of them. Thus, the motive could not be defined as lust for domination. Furthermore, when he states that he already had pears “of much better quality,” Augustine explicitly indicates that the quality of the pears he stole was not as good as the ones he already had. Therefore, Augustine’s act cannot be defined as lust of the eyes. Augustine wrote that “there was a pear tree near our vineyard laden with fruit, though attractive in neither colour nor taste.” Augustine was not interested in the appearance, smell, taste, or feel of the stolen pears; therefore, the motive could not be categorized as lust of the eyes. Finally, Augustine’s act was not applicable as an example of the lust for sensuality. He reiterated again that “I had a quantity of better pears” in later paragraphs, showing no enjoyment of having the stolen pears. He also explained that his desire was not to enjoy what he had stolen. As a result, his motive could not be categorized as the lust for sensuality, which was defined as the desire for enjoyment. This autobiographical story therefore showed Augustine’s philosophy of the three lusts to be lacking, because he provided an uncategorizable real-world example, rather than his other hypothetical
In Confessions, Augustine stated that the motive behind all actions was lust of different types. He divided lust into three categories: lust for domination, lust of the eyes, and lust for sensuality. Augustine defined lust for domination as the desire to control people or properties. Lust of the eyes was the desire to satiate the senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Augustine argued that lust for sensuality was the desire for enjoyment, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure. Augustine told many stories and gave explanations to exemplify his points. However, one autobiographical story regarding Augustine stealing pears, in which he stole from a neighbor’s orchard, does not …show more content…
Augustine confessed that “I stole something which I had in plenty and of much better quality.” This showed that Augustine did not steal the pears out of the desire to control them, since he already possessed many of them. Thus, the motive could not be defined as lust for domination. Furthermore, when he states that he already had pears “of much better quality,” Augustine explicitly indicates that the quality of the pears he stole was not as good as the ones he already had. Therefore, Augustine’s act cannot be defined as lust of the eyes. Augustine wrote that “there was a pear tree near our vineyard laden with fruit, though attractive in neither colour nor taste.” Augustine was not interested in the appearance, smell, taste, or feel of the stolen pears; therefore, the motive could not be categorized as lust of the eyes. Finally, Augustine’s act was not applicable as an example of the lust for sensuality. He reiterated again that “I had a quantity of better pears” in later paragraphs, showing no enjoyment of having the stolen pears. He also explained that his desire was not to enjoy what he had stolen. As a result, his motive could not be categorized as the lust for sensuality, which was defined as the desire for enjoyment. This autobiographical story therefore showed Augustine’s philosophy of the three lusts to be lacking, because he provided an uncategorizable real-world example, rather than his other hypothetical