PHI 301 Spinoza

Who was Spinoza?

He is the only modern philosopher before the nineteenth century who openly challenges the central claim of Judeo-Christian theology: that the world has been freely created by God, who is both (a) transcendent (i.e. separate from and "above" creation) and (b) law-giver to, and judge of the actions of, human beings.

Three Cracks in Desecrates Philosophy

1) The Creation Problem

2) The Free Will Problem

3) The Mind-Boy Causation Problem

The Creation Problem

If God is a self-sufficient, infinite and supremely perfect being, why did he choose to create the world and how did he bring the world into existence? As a supremely perfect being, God has no need of created things (he lacks nothing); and if God creates something other than himself, how can he remain infinite or all-encompassing?

The Free Will Problem

According to traditional theology, one of the main ways in which evil enters the world is through human beings' misuse of their freedom, a freedom that is in itself wholly good. This misuse of our free will means that the guilt of sin lies with human beings and not God. And since God has this power and has created us knowing precisely what we would choose, can we even be said to have chosen freely?

The Mind-Body Causation Problem

Concerns how things as different as mind and matter can interact with each other. In other words, how is it possible for two really distinct substances to interact causally with each other?

Spinoza’s Philosophical Mission

To find the true good/eternal joy, without the use of wealth, honor, and sensual pleasure.

Spinoza Proves his Ethics in Geometrical Order

Two central aims of the Ethics (compare with Descartes’ Meditations)

• Explain the fundamental nature of reality.

• Provide an ethical theory that explains virtue, freedom, and our highest good.

Definition 1

By cause of itself (causa sui) I mean that whose essence involves existence or that whose nature cannot be conceived except as existing.

Definition 2

A thing is said to be finite in its kind if it can be limited by another thing of the same nature. For example, a body is said to be finite because we always conceive bodies that are greater. Similarly a thought is limited by another thought. But a body is not limited by a thought nor a thought by a body.

Definition 3

By substance I mean that which is in itself and is conceived through itself, i.e. no concept of any other thing is needed for forming a concept of it.

Definition 4

By attribute I mean that which an intellect perceives of a substance as constituting its essence

Definition 5

By mode I mean affections of a substance or that which is in another thing through which it is also conceived

Definition 6

By God I mean absolutely infinite being, i.e. substance consisting of infinite attributes, each one of which expresses eternal and infinite essence

Definition 7

A thing is said to be free if it exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and is determined to action by itself alone. But a thing that is determined by another thing to exist and to operate in a specific and determinate way is necessary or rather compelled.