E3DA27
Definition of an Emotion — Part III
Latin
P°nitentia est tristitia concomitante idea alicujus facti quod nos ex libero mentis decreto fecisse credimus.
Explicatio: Horum affectuum causas ostendimus in scholio propositionis 51 hujus et propositionibus 53, 54 et 55 hujus ejusque scholio. De libero autem mentis decreto vide scholium propositionis 35 partis II. Sed hic præterea notandum venit mirum non esse quod omnes omnino actus qui ex consuetudine pravi vocantur, sequatur tristitia et illos qui recti dicuntur, lætitia. Nam hoc ab educatione potissimum pendere facile ex supra dictis intelligimus. Parentes nimirum illos exprobrando liberosque propter eosdem sæpe objurgando, hos contra suadendo et laudando effecerunt ut tristitiæ commotiones illis, lætitiæ vero his jungerentur. Quod ipsa etiam experientia comprobatur. Nam consuetudo et religio non est omnibus eadem sed contra quæ apud alios sacra, apud alios profana et quæ apud alios honesta, apud alios turpia sunt. Prout igitur unusquisque educatus est, ita facti alicujus p°nitet vel eodem gloriatur.
English (Elwes 1883)
Repentance is pain accompanied by the idea of some action, which we believe we have performed by the free decision of our mind.
Explanation: The causes of these emotions we have set forth in III. li. note, and in III. liii., liv., lv. and note. Concerning the free decision of the mind see II. xxxv. note. This is perhaps the place to call attention to the fact, that it is nothing wonderful that all those actions, which are commonly called wrong, are followed by pain, and all those, which are called right, are followed by pleasure. We can easily gather from what has been said, that this depends in great measure on education. Parents, by reprobating the former class of actions, and by frequently chiding their children because of them, and also by persuading to and praising the latter class, have brought it about, that the former should be associated with pain and the latter with pleasure. This is confirmed by experience. For custom and religion are not the same among all men, but that which some consider sacred others consider profane, and what some consider honourable others consider disgraceful. According as each man has been educated, he feels repentance for a given action or glories therein.
Modern English
Repentance is sadness accompanied by the idea of some action that we believe we have performed by the free decision of our mind.
The causes of these affects are shown in the Scholium of Proposition 51 and in Propositions 53, 54, and 55 of this Part and their scholia (E3P51S) (E3P53) (E3P54) (E3P55). On the free decision of the mind, see the Scholium of Proposition 35 of Part 2 (E2P35S).
Here it is also worth noting that it is not surprising if all actions commonly called wrong are followed by sadness, and those called right by joy. For it is easy to gather from what has been said above that this depends chiefly on education. Parents, by reproaching the former kind of actions and often chiding their children on account of them, and by urging and praising the latter kind, have brought it about that sadness is associated with the former and joy with the latter. Experience confirms this. For custom and religion are not the same everywhere; what is sacred to some is profane to others, and what is honorable to some is shameful to others. So each person repents of an action or glories in it according to how they were raised.