Anonymous Timed WritingAnonymous Timed Writing Consider this statement:Consider this statement: ““I am satisfied with the course so far.”I am satisfied with the course so far.”
• 1. Strongly agree1. Strongly agree• 2. Agree2. Agree• 3. Neutral3. Neutral• 4. Disagree4. Disagree• 5. Strongly disagree5. Strongly disagree
Write the number and briefly explain what you Write the number and briefly explain what you like most and least about the course or any like most and least about the course or any comments and suggestions you may have.comments and suggestions you may have.
The Significance of Spinoza The Significance of Spinoza The first modern The first modern
philosopher?philosopher? Understanding Understanding
the Emotions is the Emotions is centralcentral
The Ethics of The Ethics of Love is centralLove is central
Background to Spinoza: Background to Spinoza: Descartes’ PhilosophyDescartes’ Philosophy
Spinoza will Spinoza will criticize:criticize:• Cartesian dualismCartesian dualism
View of GodView of God View of humansView of humans
• The nature of errorThe nature of error• The understanding The understanding
of emotionsof emotions• On God and Nature On God and Nature
see p. 167-68see p. 167-68
Baruch (Benedict) SpinozaBaruch (Benedict) Spinoza 1632: b. Amsterdam1632: b. Amsterdam Rabbinical educationRabbinical education 1656: 1656:
excommunicated for excommunicated for unorthodoxyunorthodoxy
1663: 1663: Descartes’ Descartes’ Principles of Principles of PhilosophyPhilosophy
1670: 1670: Theologico-Theologico-Political TreatisePolitical Treatise
1677: Death 1677: Death 1678: Publication of 1678: Publication of
Ethics Ethics
From the formal record of From the formal record of Spinoza’s excommunication:Spinoza’s excommunication:
““Cursed be he by day and cursed be he by night; cursed be Cursed be he by day and cursed be he by night; cursed be he when he lies down, and cursed be he when he rises up; he when he lies down, and cursed be he when he rises up; cursed be he when he goes out, and cursed be cursed be he when he goes out, and cursed be he when he when he comes in. The Lord will not pardon him; the anger and he comes in. The Lord will not pardon him; the anger and wrath of the Lord will rage against this man, and bring upon wrath of the Lord will rage against this man, and bring upon him all the curses which are written in the Book of the Law, him all the curses which are written in the Book of the Law, and the Lord will destroy his name from under the and the Lord will destroy his name from under the Heavens.” Heavens.” • From: A. Wolf, ed., From: A. Wolf, ed., The Oldest Biography of SpinozaThe Oldest Biography of Spinoza (London: George (London: George
Allen & Unwin, 1927), 146.Allen & Unwin, 1927), 146.
Approaching the Approaching the EthicsEthics ““To be a philosopher you must first be a To be a philosopher you must first be a
Spinozist: if you have no Spinozism, you Spinozist: if you have no Spinozism, you have no philosophy.” have no philosophy.” HegelHegel
““Indisputable masterpiece” Indisputable masterpiece” J. BennettJ. Bennett
““One of the major and most influential One of the major and most influential works in philosophy” works in philosophy” E. CurleyE. Curley
““All things excellent are as difficult as they All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.” are rare.” SpinozaSpinoza
Why Demonstrated in Why Demonstrated in Geometrical Order?Geometrical Order?
““It is the nature of reason to It is the nature of reason to perceive things under a certain perceive things under a certain species of eternity.” e2p44c2species of eternity.” e2p44c2
““For the eyes of the mind, by For the eyes of the mind, by which it sees and observes which it sees and observes things, are demonstrations.” things, are demonstrations.” e5p23se5p23s
Part One: Concerning God Part One: Concerning God (Metaphysics)(Metaphysics)
Central definitions (Part I):Central definitions (Part I):• Substance Substance (Monism)(Monism)• AttributesAttributes (Property-Dualism)(Property-Dualism)• ModesModes (Pantheism)(Pantheism)
Deus sive NaturaDeus sive Natura (God, or in other words (God, or in other words Nature): Nature is a unified whole, and we Nature): Nature is a unified whole, and we must grasp the nature of this whole before must grasp the nature of this whole before we can understand the parts.we can understand the parts.
Self-caused, existing, necessarily infinite, Self-caused, existing, necessarily infinite, indivisible, extended (corporeal), indivisible, extended (corporeal), immutable, infinitely powerful, without immutable, infinitely powerful, without freedom of will, immanent causefreedom of will, immanent cause
Which are most controversial?Which are most controversial?
Central PropositionsCentral Propositions
Prop. 5: In the universe there cannot Prop. 5: In the universe there cannot be two or more substances of the be two or more substances of the same nature or attribute.same nature or attribute.
Why?Why? Because then nothing could possibly Because then nothing could possibly
distinguish them. distinguish them. Prop. 7: It belongs to the nature of Prop. 7: It belongs to the nature of
substance to exist.substance to exist.
Ontological Proofs of God’s Ontological Proofs of God’s ExistenceExistence
Prop. 11: God, or substance consisting of Prop. 11: God, or substance consisting of infinite attributes, each of which expresses infinite attributes, each of which expresses eternal and infinite essence, necessarily eternal and infinite essence, necessarily exists.exists.
Reductio ad absurdum (“reduction to the Reductio ad absurdum (“reduction to the absurd”—assume the opposite of what you absurd”—assume the opposite of what you want to prove and derive a contradiction or want to prove and derive a contradiction or absurdity, thus proving the affirmative)absurdity, thus proving the affirmative)
God doesn’t exist.God doesn’t exist. Therefore his essence doesn’t involve Therefore his essence doesn’t involve
existence. (contra. Prop. 7)existence. (contra. Prop. 7) Thus, God exists.Thus, God exists.
An a posteriori proof: An a posteriori proof: Axiom: to be able not to exist is a weakness; to be Axiom: to be able not to exist is a weakness; to be
able to exist is a power.able to exist is a power. If what necessarily exists is only finite entities, then If what necessarily exists is only finite entities, then
they are more powerful than an absolutely infinite they are more powerful than an absolutely infinite entity, which is absurd.entity, which is absurd.
Thus, since we exist, so must an absolutely infinite Thus, since we exist, so must an absolutely infinite entity.entity.
Prop. 14: There can be, or be conceived, no other Prop. 14: There can be, or be conceived, no other substance but God. substance but God.
A perfect substance possesses all attributes. (def. 6)A perfect substance possesses all attributes. (def. 6) There can’t be more than one substance possessing There can’t be more than one substance possessing
an attribute. (prop. 5)an attribute. (prop. 5) Thus, only one perfect substance exists, since there Thus, only one perfect substance exists, since there
are no attributes left over for another substance.are no attributes left over for another substance.
Determinism: e1p25-33Determinism: e1p25-33 Everything that happens is determined by Everything that happens is determined by
two factors—the standing nature of God two factors—the standing nature of God (i.e. the laws of nature) and previous (i.e. the laws of nature) and previous conditions likewise determined back conditions likewise determined back through infinite time through infinite time
Central propositions: 25 & 29 & 33Central propositions: 25 & 29 & 33 A problem? Props. 23 & 28A problem? Props. 23 & 28 Appendix on Human Prejudices: Against the Appendix on Human Prejudices: Against the
Doctrine of Final Causes, i.e., that Nature Doctrine of Final Causes, i.e., that Nature has an end (or that God has a will)—this has an end (or that God has a will)—this doctrine negates the perfection of Goddoctrine negates the perfection of God
Advantages of Determinism Advantages of Determinism (E2p49sIV) (E2p49sIV)
1. Teaches us to act solely in 1. Teaches us to act solely in accordance with the command of God accordance with the command of God and participate in divine natureand participate in divine nature
Also, calmness of mind and Also, calmness of mind and blessednessblessedness
2. Proper attitude towards fortune2. Proper attitude towards fortune 3. Social life: teaches us to hate no 3. Social life: teaches us to hate no
one, despise no one…be content and one, despise no one…be content and help our neighborshelp our neighbors
4. Society in general: how citizens 4. Society in general: how citizens should be governed—not as slaves, should be governed—not as slaves, but as free menbut as free men
Part Two: On the Nature and Origin Part Two: On the Nature and Origin of the Mindof the Mind
Philosophy of Mind, Theory of Knowledge Philosophy of Mind, Theory of Knowledge (Epistemology), Philosophy of Science(Epistemology), Philosophy of Science
What are the two known attributes of God?What are the two known attributes of God? Thought and ExtensionThought and Extension Descartes and the Mind/Body ProblemDescartes and the Mind/Body Problem Spinoza’s solution: mind-body identity theory and Spinoza’s solution: mind-body identity theory and
psychophysical parallelismpsychophysical parallelism The mind is just the idea of the body, i.e., a mode The mind is just the idea of the body, i.e., a mode
of thought that is identical with the body and has of thought that is identical with the body and has the body as its object.the body as its object.
Because each is causally self-contained, there is Because each is causally self-contained, there is no question of bodily events causing mental ones no question of bodily events causing mental ones or vice versa.or vice versa.
Part Two: Central PropositionsPart Two: Central Propositions Prop. 7: The order and connection of ideas is the Prop. 7: The order and connection of ideas is the
same as the order and connection of things.same as the order and connection of things. Prop. 11: The first thing that constitutes the Prop. 11: The first thing that constitutes the
actual being of the human mind is simply the idea actual being of the human mind is simply the idea of some particular thing which actually exists. of some particular thing which actually exists.
Corollary: The human mind is part of the infinite Corollary: The human mind is part of the infinite intellect of God.intellect of God.
Prop. 13: the object of the idea constituting the Prop. 13: the object of the idea constituting the human mind is the body, or, a certain actually human mind is the body, or, a certain actually existing mode of extension, and nothing else.existing mode of extension, and nothing else.
EpistemologyEpistemology Criterion of truth: an adequate idea: Def. 4Criterion of truth: an adequate idea: Def. 4 Nature of Falsity (error, sin): Nature of Falsity (error, sin): Prop. 35: Falsity consists in the privation of Prop. 35: Falsity consists in the privation of
knowledge which inadequate, i.e. mutilated and knowledge which inadequate, i.e. mutilated and confused, ideas involve.confused, ideas involve.
Falsity is not a positive characteristic of ideas, but Falsity is not a positive characteristic of ideas, but rather a kind of privation or mutilation. Because rather a kind of privation or mutilation. Because things must be understood through their causes, things must be understood through their causes, an idea of a thing that doesn’t include knowledge an idea of a thing that doesn’t include knowledge of its cause is incomplete and partial. of its cause is incomplete and partial.
Examples: “Humans are free.” “The sun is 200 Examples: “Humans are free.” “The sun is 200 feet away.”feet away.”
Three Kinds of Knowledge Three Kinds of Knowledge (E2p40s2)(E2p40s2)
First, Opinion or ImaginationFirst, Opinion or Imagination Disorganized, confused knowledge from senses Disorganized, confused knowledge from senses
and experience. (Only source of falsity)and experience. (Only source of falsity) Second, ReasonSecond, Reason Understand essential properties of things clearly Understand essential properties of things clearly
and distinctly; understand causal process and and distinctly; understand causal process and how things follow deductively. how things follow deductively.
Third, IntuitionThird, Intuition To “see” self-evident truths without explicit To “see” self-evident truths without explicit
conscious processes of reasoning.conscious processes of reasoning. An example: A common property of proportionals An example: A common property of proportionals
1, 2, 3, …?1, 2, 3, …?