Pagina 720 di 734

By habitually acting on the Minor Premiss, i.e. on the

suggestions of [Greek: epithymia], a man comes really to hold the

Major Premiss. Aristotle says of the man destitute of all

self-control that he is firmly persuaded that it is his proper

line to pursue the gratification of his bodily appetites, [Greek:

dia to toioytos einai oios diokein aytas]. And his analysis of

[Greek: akrasia] (the state of progress towards this utter

abandonment to passion) shows that each case of previous good

resolution succumbing to temptation is attributable to [Greek:

epithymia] suggesting its own Minor Premiss in place of the right

one. Book VII. 8 and 5.

[46] The consequentia is this:

There are cases both of principles and facts which cannot admit

of reasoning, and must be authoritatively determined by [Greek:

nous]. What makes [Greek: nous] to be a true guide? only

practice, i.e. Experience, and therefore, etc.