1 The Rationalists: Spinoza Human Beings Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

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The Rationalists: SpinozaThe Rationalists: Spinoza

Human BeingsHuman Beings

Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

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OutlineOutline


1. Reminder and Introduction

2. Thought and Extension

3. Mind and Body in Human beings

4. Knowledge

5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

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Reminder: Reminder: Spinoza’s MetaphysicsSpinoza’s Metaphysics


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IntroductionIntroduction

The problem of the fundamental constituents of reality:

Bodies and Ideas


MONISMOne kind of stuff

DUALISMTwo kinds of stuff

Materialism (Hobbes) Mind-Body dualism (Descartes)

Idealism (Berkeley)

Problem: how to reduce? Problem: how do they interact?

Example: I raise my arm / seeing an eagle fly

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4. Knowledge


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Thought and Extension: Thought and Extension: Attributes of the SubstanceAttributes of the Substance


Two faces of the same coin:- Attributes: ways of comprehending the unique substance- Ex: the circle

ConsequenceThere is an idea for everything in God – everything has a “soul”

The thought – extension problem (dis)solved:The order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of thingsNote on “Parallelism”

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4. Knowledge


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Humans, their Soul and Body Humans, their Soul and Body Mode, Modes of the AttributesMode, Modes of the Attributes


Humans:Not substances, hence must be modes of the substance

Body and Soul: the two faces of the same coin

PERSON (Mode)

Extension:BODY

Conceived as: Thought:SOUL

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Humans, their Soul and Body Humans, their Soul and Body Inertia and ConatusInertia and Conatus


Essential characteristics of every being:The strive to persevere in its being

Extension:INERTIA

Conceived as: Thought:CONATUS

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Humans, their Soul and Body Humans, their Soul and Body IndividualityIndividuality


Problem: How do we conceive ourselves as ONE?What is an individual?

Spinoza’s basic physics: - Simple bodies: not atoms – ideas in God- Composed bodies

Individuals:- Bodies: distinguished through the difference in movement- Individual: Group of bodies with coordinated movement

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Human Beings Human Beings FacultiesFaculties


No Free willJust like any other mode: necessary consequence of God’s nature

Our lives = Affections:- Affections: both in our body and our mind- Body and Soul work in parallel causal orders- Passions vs. Actions – decrease or increase our power

Imagination:- Faculty of representation- Source of error- Positive power: to transform passions into actions

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4. Knowledge


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Knowledge (1)Knowledge (1)


First kind – Imagination or opinion- Method: sense-perception, words, induction- Object: general properties- Result: Confuse and inadequate- Example: ourselves as limited in space and time

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Second Kind – Reason- Method: common notions, logical inferences- Object: common properties of things (sciences) - Result: knowledge of necessary truths, adequate ideas

Adequate idea: Object understood (1) in its true necessity; (2)“sub specie aeternitatis”Example: ourselves as necessary modes

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Third Kind -- Intuition- Method: immediate knowledge - Object: essence of particulars- Result: understanding of the necessity of everything, of the infinite

Prospects:-If attainable, then mystical experience-If attained, then highest blessedness

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4. Knowledge


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Conclusion Conclusion Practical advantagesPractical advantages


1. Love against Hate

JoyIncrease in power

Affection SadnessDecrease in power

LoveReaction

toward cause Hate

2. Understanding and the tranquility of the mind -- Actions

3. Servitude = arrogance and despotism

4. Intellectual love of God = us as adequate causes and true blessedness

5. Free Republic

Documents

1 The Rationalists: Spinoza Human Beings Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana