Section — Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis
2. On Studiousness
716. Studiousness is a virtue moderating the appetite and study for knowing truth according to the rules of right reason.1414
Man indeed naturally desires to know truth; but since after original sin knowledge of truths cannot be had without laborious study, some men from laziness neglect to learn even necessary truths. Fortitude impels one to conquer laziness in learning necessary truths. But the virtue of studiousness moderates the inordinate desire of knowing. Studiousness indeed principally concerns the moderation of sensitive cognition in sight and hearing, because disorder more easily arises there; nevertheless, it must not rarely be exercised also in intellectual cognition.
The vice opposed to studiousness by excess is curiosity, which is the inordinate appetite for knowing.1415 Curiosity concerns both intellectual and sensitive cognition. Concerning intellectual cognition, disorder can occur: 1. on the part of the end, if, namely, knowledge is sought for an evil end, for example, in order to harm others; 2. from an inordinate mode of desiring knowledge, and this in four ways: a) if someone, on account of the study of useless things, neglects sciences which must necessarily be learned; b) if someone attempts to learn knowledge from the devil, as happens in divination, vain observance, spiritism, etc.; c) if someone does not order knowledge of creatures to knowledge of God; d) if someone studies to know truths exceeding his capacity.
On the part of sensitive cognition, however, disorder can be present either because it is not ordered to something useful and rather turns one away from necessary knowledge, or because it concerns dangerous things, for example, if someone curiously looks upon a woman and thence suffers temptations against chastity. Inordinate curiosity of itself is only a venial sin, since its disorder is not so great; nevertheless, it can become a mortal sin by reason of the matter, the end, and the means employed. Inordinate curiosity is sometimes called the concupiscence of the eyes.1416 He who opens and reads another's letters sins not only by the vice of curiosity, but also against justice.1417
Opposed by defect to the virtue of studiousness is negligence, that is, the voluntary omission of knowing those things which are necessary according to the state and condition of each person. The gravity of this sin depends upon the evils thence following, or at least upon the probable danger of evils.
1414 S. theol. 2, 2, q. 166, a. 3. In German: Wißbegierde [desire for knowledge].
1415 Neugierde [curiosity].
1416 S. theol. 2, 2, q. 167, a. 2.
1417 Cf. above, n. 181, where violation of secrecy was treated.