Considering Curiosity

Ego Ecclesiastes fui rex Israel in Jerusalem; et proposui in animo meo quaerere et investigare sapienter de omnibus quae fiunt sub sole. Hanc occupationem pessimam... Describitur curiositas philosophiae, primo quidem quoad considerationem rerum naturalium, et hoc quadruplici ratione. Curiositatem igitur in operibus naturae sive in consideratione operum divinorum hoc ordine describit. Primo innuitur considerantis idoneitas, secundo vero ipsius curiositas, tertio divini iudicii severitas, quarto concluditur vanitas. Primo igitur notatur considerantis idoneitas, cum dicit: Ego Ecclesiastes: quia in eo fuit sapientia, ideo se dicit Ecclesiasten, id est concionatorem: fuit etiam potentia, unde dicit: fui rex: fuit etiam pax, unde subdit: in Ierusalem, quae interpretatur visio pacis: Ecclesiastici quadragesimo septimo: Salomon imperavit in diebus pacis: primi Paralipomenon vigesimo secundo: Filius, qui nascetur tibi, erit pacificus; et quia hoc habebat, ideo nihil a consideratione retrahebat. Et proposui in animo meo etc. Tangitur hic secundum, scilicet ipsius curiositas, quia omnia voluit scire et subtiliter indagare. Proptereadicit: Et proposui in animo meo quaerere, scilicet ab alio, et investigare sapienter, per me ipsum; et hoc est curiositas; ad Romanos duodecimo: Non plus sapere, quam oportet sapere, sed sapere ad sobrietatem; unde Proverbiorum vigesimo quinto: Mel invenisti , comede quod sufficit tibi, ne forte satiatus evomas illud. De omnibus, quae fiunt sub sole. Ecce, maior curiositas, quia de omnibus; Ecclesiastici tertio: In supervacuis rebus noli scrutari multipliciter, et in pluribus operibus eius ne fueris curiosus; plurima enim super sensum hominum ostensa sunt tibi. Hanc occupationem pessimam etc. Tangitur hic tertium, scilicet divini iudicii severitas; quia divino iudicio propter peccatum primi parentis factum est, quod noslra vis rationalis ita libenter luxuriatur in cognitione terrenorum. Propter quod dicit: Hanc occupationem pessimam, quia non tantum est culpabilis, sed etiam poenalis; dedit Deus filiis hominum, id est dari permisit; vel ratione poenalitatis dedit iusto modo, ut occuparentur in ea, ac per hoc immemores essent suae salutis. Unde notandum est, quod est occupatio mala, quae est ex infirmitate; de hac Ecclesiastici quadragesimo, Occupatio magna creata est omnibus hominibus, et iugum grave super filios Adam a die exitus de ventre matris eorum usque in diem sepulturae in matrem omnium. Est occupatio peior , quae est ex ignorantia, de qua lob tertio: Obscurenteum tenebrae et umbra mortis; occupet eum caligo et involvatur amaritudine. Tertia est ex curiositate, et haec est pessima, et de hac loquitur hic Et notandum, quod « occupatio, ut dicit Hugo, est distractio mentis, quae avertit et distrahit et illaqueat animam , ut non possit cogitare ea quae salutis sunt. Curiositas vero est intellectus humani libidinosa prostitutio, passim quamlibet veritatem amplexans et cum ea adulterans, quia sola prima veritas est sponsa. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Ecclesiasten, Caput I Source: Here, p17-18

I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This is the worst occupation... 1 Philosophical curiosity is now described, firstly as much as it is a consideration of natural things, and this in four ways. Now curiosity regarding the works of nature or Divine works is described in this order, firstly by consideration of ability, secondly regarding curiosity itself, thirdly as regards the severity of Divine judgement, and fourthly it concludes with vanity. Firstly then, the consideration of ability is noted, when he says, 'I Ecclesiastes,' because there is wisdom in him, therefore he calls himself Ecclesiastes, that is, preacher, and he was capable, hence he says 'I was king,' and he was at peace, hence he adds 'in Jerusalem,' which is understood as 'vision of peace.' In the forty seventh chapter of Ecclesiasticus, 'Solomon ruled in the days of peace.' In the twenty second chapter of the first book of Chronicles, 'The son who shall be born to you shall be a man of peace.' 2 and because he had all this, therefore nothing was beyond he consideration. And I proposed in my soul to seek and investigate wisely... This touches on the second matter, that is, curiosity itself, because he wishes to know everything and to examine it with subtlety. 'And I proposed in my soul to seek,' that is, from another and 'to investigate wisely,' that is, through myself, and this is curiosity. In the twelfth chapter of Romans: 'Do not know more than it is fitting for you to know, and know soberly.' In the twenty fifth chapter of Proverbs, 'You have found honey, eat it as it is enough for you, lest overindulging you vomit it up.' 3 Concerning everything that is beneath the sun. Behold, a greater curiosity, because it is about everything. In the third chapter of Ecclesiasticus, 'Do not care to scrutinise useless things overmuch, and in his many of works do not be curious, for many thing are shown to be beyond the understanding of man.' 4 This is the worst occupation. This touches on the third matter, that is the severity of Divine judgement, because on account of the Divine judgement of the sin of our first parents our power of reasoning thus gladly luxuriates in the knowledge of worldly things. Because of this it says, 'This is the worst occupation.' since not only is it blameworthy but even a punishment. God gave it to the sons of men, that is, He permitted it to be given, and the reason of the punishment He gave in a just manner is so that occupied with these things they shall be forgetful of the things of salvation. Let is be noted that there is a bad occupation which is a matter of infirmity, concerning which the fortieth chapter of Ecclesiasticus says, 'A great occupation has been created for every man and a heavy yoke is on the sons of Adam from the day he comes out of his mother's womb until the day he comes into his tomb, the mother of us all.' And there is a worse occupation which springs from ignorance, concerning which it is says in the third chapter of Job, 'Darkness and the shadow of death covers him; gloom envelops him and he is embroiled in bitterness.' 5 The third is from curiosity and this is the worst, and so it is said here. And let it be noted that Hugh says that occupation means a distraction of the mind when is turned away and diverted and the soul is ensnared so that it cannot think on the things of salvation. 6 Curiosity is a lustful prostitution of the understanding of the human intellect, which seizes on any truth anywhere and fornicates with it, because the sole first truth is the bride. 7 Saint Bonaventura, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1 1 Eccles 1.12-13 2 Sirach 47.15, Chron 22.9 3 Rom 12.3, Prov 25.16 4 Sirach 3.24-25 5 Sirach 40.1, Job 3.5 6 Hugh of Saint Victor In Eccle Homil 5 7 The Church