Erotic knowledge

Augustine said that knowing and willing were inseparable.  Knowledge is “a thing discovered,” and “discovery is often preceded by a search which aims at resting in its object.  Searching is a striving ( appetitus ) for discovery.”  He continues: “We may say that the mind’s ‘bringing forth’ is preceded by a kind of striving, by which, in the seeking and finding of what we desire to know, knowledge is born as offspring.  It follows that this striving, whereby knowledge is conceived and brought forth, cannot properly be called ‘brought forth’ or ‘offspring.’  This same striving, or eager pursuit of the thing yet to be known, becomes love of the thing known, when it holds in its embrace the offspring, the knowledge, in which it delights, and joins it to the begetter.”

That’s great stuff, in several ways: First, knowledge is here conceived not as immediate contemplation but as a striving that has erotic overtones.  This means, second, that knowledge comes at the end of pursuit; it is “eschatological.”  Finally, Augustine introduces this analogy in a discussion of the Trinity: The begetter is the Father, the knowledge sought, pursued, desired, is the Offspring of the Son, and the Spirit is the striving toward the Offspring that joins Father and Son.