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E4P12

Proposition — Part IV

Latin

Affectus erga rem quam scimus in præsenti non existere et quam ut possibilem imaginamur, cæteris paribus intensior est quam erga contingentem.

English (Elwes 1883)

An emotion towards a thing, which we know not to exist at the present time, and which we conceive as possible, is more intense, other conditions being equal, than an emotion towards a thing contingent.

Modern English

An affect toward something we know not to exist at present but conceive as possible is, all else being equal, more intense than an affect toward something contingent.