E3P9S
Scholium — Part III
Latin
Hic conatus cum ad mentem solam refertur, voluntas appellatur sed cum ad mentem et corpus simul refertur, vocatur appetitus, qui proinde nihil aliud est quam ipsa hominis essentia ex cujus natura ea quæ ipsius conservationi inserviunt, necessario sequuntur atque adeo homo ad eadem agendum determinatus est. Deinde inter appetitum et cupiditatem nulla est differentia nisi quod cupiditas ad homines plerumque referatur quatenus sui appetitus sunt conscii et propterea sic definiri potest nempe cupiditas est appetitus cum ejusdem conscientia. Constat itaque ex his omnibus nihil nos conari, velle, appetere neque cupere quia id bonum esse judicamus sed contra nos propterea aliquid bonum esse judicare quia id conamur, volumus, appetimus atque cupimus.
English (Elwes 1883)
This endeavour, when referred solely to the mind, is called will, when referred to the mind and body in conjunction it is called appetite; it is, in fact, nothing else but man's essence, from the nature of which necessarily follow all those results which tend to its preservation; and which man has thus been determined to perform.
Further, between appetite and desire there is no difference, except that the term desire is generally applied to men, in so far as they are conscious of their appetite, and may accordingly be thus defined: Desire is appetite with consciousness thereof. It is thus plain from what has been said, that in no case do we strive for, wish for, long for, or desire anything, because we deem it to be good, but on the other hand we deem a thing to be good, because we strive for it, wish for it, long for it, or desire it.
Modern English
When this *conatus* is referred to the mind alone, it is called will. When it is referred to mind and body together, it is called appetite. Appetite is nothing other than the very essence of a human being, from whose nature those things that serve its preservation necessarily follow, and toward which the person is accordingly determined to act.
Now between appetite and desire there is no difference except that desire is generally applied to human beings insofar as they are conscious of their appetite. Desire can therefore be defined as appetite together with consciousness of that appetite.
From all this it is plain that we do not strive for, will, seek, or desire anything because we judge it to be good. Rather, we judge something to be good because we strive for it, will it, seek it, and desire it.