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Spinoza – Ethics OneSpinoza – Ethics One

Charles ManekinCharles Manekin

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Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Brief Comments About Spinoza’s BioBrief Comments About Spinoza’s Bio The Geometric MethodThe Geometric Method Substance, Attribute, ModeSubstance, Attribute, Mode God or NatureGod or Nature The “Properties” of GodThe “Properties” of God

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Spinoza’s LifeSpinoza’s Life

Born 1632 in Amsterdam; father imported Born 1632 in Amsterdam; father imported dried fruits and nuts; member in good dried fruits and nuts; member in good standing of Jewish community.standing of Jewish community.

Studied with Menasshe ben Israel, Isaac Studied with Menasshe ben Israel, Isaac Aboab, Saul Levi MorteiraAboab, Saul Levi Morteira

Went into business with his brother.Went into business with his brother. Began to study Latin and secular subjects.Began to study Latin and secular subjects. Put in Cherem on July 27, 1656, probably Put in Cherem on July 27, 1656, probably

for theological doctrines and doubts about for theological doctrines and doubts about the divinity of Scriptures.the divinity of Scriptures.

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Spinoza’s LifeSpinoza’s Life

In late 1650’s, work on the Treatise on In late 1650’s, work on the Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect and the the Emendation of the Intellect and the Short Treatise on God, Man, and Well-Short Treatise on God, Man, and Well-BeingBeing

1663, Principles of Descarte’s 1663, Principles of Descarte’s philosophyphilosophy

Writes in 1670, the Theological Political Writes in 1670, the Theological Political TreatiseTreatise

1675 – decides first to publish, then not 1675 – decides first to publish, then not to publish, the Ethicsto publish, the Ethics

Dies in 1677Dies in 1677

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The Geometric MethodThe Geometric Method

Geometrical method may have been Geometrical method may have been adopted primarily with the Cartesians adopted primarily with the Cartesians involved.involved.

He starts out with definitions and axioms He starts out with definitions and axioms that in are in themselves familiar to the that in are in themselves familiar to the Cartesians.Cartesians.

And proceeds in a geometric fashion, as if And proceeds in a geometric fashion, as if to say, “You must accept my conclusions, to say, “You must accept my conclusions, since they follow from your definitions and since they follow from your definitions and premises.”premises.”

Also, this was his pedagogic tool.Also, this was his pedagogic tool.

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SubstanceSubstance

““By substance I understand what is in itself, and is By substance I understand what is in itself, and is conceived through itself, i.e., that whose concept does not conceived through itself, i.e., that whose concept does not require the concept of another thing, from which it is require the concept of another thing, from which it is formed.” formed.”

Contrast this with five classic definitions of substance: Contrast this with five classic definitions of substance: • The concrete particular: this table, this man, this thing.The concrete particular: this table, this man, this thing.• The essence of something: what is the substance of your The essence of something: what is the substance of your

remarks. remarks. • The center of change. What remains of something when The center of change. What remains of something when

its properties change.its properties change.• The bearer of properties; what underlies the various The bearer of properties; what underlies the various

properties.properties.• That which possesses independent existence. That which possesses independent existence.

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ModeMode By mode I mean the affections of By mode I mean the affections of

substance; that is, that which is in substance; that is, that which is in something else and conceived something else and conceived through something else.through something else.

What is the distinction between What is the distinction between substance and mode?substance and mode?

Substance is ontologically Substance is ontologically independent of anything else; it is independent of anything else; it is dependent on nothing else for its dependent on nothing else for its existence.existence.

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ModeMode Furthermore, in order to conceive Furthermore, in order to conceive

substance, it is not necessary to refer to substance, it is not necessary to refer to anything else.anything else.

This is what Spinoza means when he says This is what Spinoza means when he says that substance is conceived through itself.that substance is conceived through itself.

A mode, however, is ontologically and A mode, however, is ontologically and epistemologically dependant upon epistemologically dependant upon substance; it exists as a modification of substance; it exists as a modification of substance, and is understood through substance, and is understood through reference to substance.reference to substance.

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AttributeAttribute

By attribute I mean that which (the) intellect perceives of By attribute I mean that which (the) intellect perceives of substance as constituting its essence.substance as constituting its essence.

What is the relationship of substance and attribute?What is the relationship of substance and attribute? Substance is rendered intelligible through attribute; Substance is rendered intelligible through attribute;

otherwise we would know no more about substance than otherwise we would know no more about substance than what follows from its definition; we would not know its what follows from its definition; we would not know its nature.nature.

Two examples are givenTwo examples are given• By 'Israel' I understand the third Patriarch; by Jacob I By 'Israel' I understand the third Patriarch; by Jacob I

understand the same. But I also understand why the name was understand the same. But I also understand why the name was given -- because he seized the brother's heel.given -- because he seized the brother's heel.

• By flat I mean what reflects all rays of light without any By flat I mean what reflects all rays of light without any change; I understand the same by white, except that it is change; I understand the same by white, except that it is called white in relation to a man looking at a flat surfacecalled white in relation to a man looking at a flat surface

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Substance MonismSubstance Monism

Were there more than one Were there more than one substance, they could not have a substance, they could not have a shared attribute.shared attribute.

Hence, no causal interactionHence, no causal interaction Were there more than one substance Were there more than one substance

there would have to be a cause of there would have to be a cause of that particular number.that particular number.

Explanatory rationalism.Explanatory rationalism.

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Substance exists of necessitySubstance exists of necessity

It pertains to the nature of substance It pertains to the nature of substance is self-caused.is self-caused.

Substance is indivisible.Substance is indivisible.• No parts of substanceNo parts of substance

God, a substance absolutely infinite, God, a substance absolutely infinite, of which one expressing an eteranal of which one expressing an eteranal and infinite essence, exists of and infinite essence, exists of necessity. necessity.

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Nothing can be conceived without Nothing can be conceived without GodGod

God as efficient cause of everything. God as efficient cause of everything. God’s actions are both free and God’s actions are both free and

necessary.necessary. Determinism (P33) – Things could Determinism (P33) – Things could

have been produced by God in no have been produced by God in no other order than they have been other order than they have been produce.produce.