E4P64D
Demonstration — Part IV
Latin
Cognitio mali (per propositionem 8 hujus) est ipsa tristitia quatenus ejusdem sumus conscii. Tristitia autem est transitio ad minorem perfectionem (per 3 affectuum definitionem) quæ propterea per ipsam hominis essentiam intelligi nequit (per propositiones 6 et 7 partis III) ac proinde (per definitionem 2 partis III) passio est quæ (per propositionem 3 partis III) ab ideis inadæquatis pendet et consequenter (per propositionem 29 partis II) ejus cognitio nempe mali cognitio est inadæquata. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
The knowledge of evil (IV. viii.) is pain, in so far as we are conscious thereof. Now pain is the transition to a lesser perfection (Def. of the Emotions, iii.) and therefore cannot be understood through man's nature (III. vi., and vii.); therefore it is a passive state (III. Def. ii.) which (III. iii.) depends on inadequate ideas; consequently the knowledge thereof (II. xxix.), namely, the knowledge of evil, is inadequate. Q.E.D.
Modern English
Knowledge of bad (E4P8) is sadness itself insofar as we are conscious of it. Sadness is a transition to lesser perfection (E3DA3), which cannot be understood through a person's own essence (E3P6) and is therefore a passion (E3D2). As a passion it depends on inadequate ideas (E3P3), and consequently (E2P29) knowledge of bad is inadequate knowledge. Q.E.D.