Conatus: THIRD EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

C O N A T U S

sensations over others — perhaps evolutionary reasons. But the important thing is that this is pre-rational — it is not a considered assessment or a detached observation — it is deeply emotional and visceral.

And hence, Impulse. We do not act, we re-act. In other words, we play out habitual responses to perceptions, which, in turn, we’ve become attuned to focus out of all the sensations that reach us. We are not agents at this point, we are mindless — and often very angry — puppets of our emotions and of our body in general. The body leads — always and only — the body leads. Grief, fear and despair come from the mind — reflected back into the body — and there they are often stuck. The body’s response is as if the hurts are happening physically, and in the here and now. If we want to be morally responsible and sensible people, then I can only suggest that we take on board the overwhelming influence of body and emotions as being who we mostly are.

But things get better! Next we have Image. Here, at last, is something that sets us apart as fully conscious animals that can reflect on their actions. But, of course, very often the actions have already taken place! Very often our actions have been of the Impulse variety. And even if they have not been especially angry or violent — nevertheless, they’ve been blind and habitual. A lot of Image is thus about telling ourselves that what we have done is okay! We were right to respond in the way we did. We were justified! Image is that voice in our heads that tries to make sense of what we’ve already done.

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