8378. They said furthermore that they did not prepare food with a view to taste but primarily with a view to its usefulness, adding that they found useful food flavoursome. A discussion took place among the spirits on this matter, during which it was stated that such an attitude to food is beneficial to a person, because then at heart he desires to have a healthy mind in a healthy body. But it is different with those for whom taste is all-important because of this attitude the body is sick or at least inwardly languishes and consequently the mind also. For the activity of the mind is dependent on the condition of recipient parts, which belong to the body, just as sight is dependent on the condition of the eye. The latter attitude gives rise to the insanity of supposing that all the delight of life, and - as people call it - the highest good, lies in luxury and physical pleasure. It also gives rise to stupidity in such things as are matters of thought and judgement, and astuteness in such as have to do with the body and the world. This makes a person similar to a mere animal, to which such people not inappropriately also liken themselves.