Even with regard to knowledge of the sensory world, without some attraction or interest, our minds would remain fickle and unfocused, unable to concentrate on any object for very long, incapable of distinguishing important features from unimportant ones — and would thus degenerate into chaos and superficiality. With regard to more spiritual matters, love becomes even more crucial for knowledge. In order to know God, our attention must be focused on God, which can only happen through desiring God. Therefore, Augustine speaks of an intentio cordis, an intention of the heart that is synonymous
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