Spinozas Argument for Substance Monism - 1089 Words

Topic: Spinoza’s argument for substance monism Baruch Spinoza’s The Ethics addresses the nature of God and his role in the universe, yet his dedication to supported rationality leads him to the unconventional conclusion that God and the very substance of the universe are one and the same. Spinoza bases his argument in deductive reasoning, which requires the establishment of premises; in The Ethics, these premises come in the form of definitions and axioms. God in this context is simply â€Å"an absolutely infinite being;† it is important to note that Spinoza does not unfoundedly argue that God has sentience or other properties associated with humans (158). However, God indisputably has substance, which Spinoza initially defines as something that has independent, necessary conception. A substance has essence, which forms the fundamentals of its existence; essences are interpreted by the intellect in the form of attributes. Modes are the ways through which an objec t presents itself through being; they are the â€Å"affections of a substance† (158). These definitions allow Spinoza to say that his conclusions necessarily follow from ideas which are true, making his argument supported entirely by logic. Spinoza begins his argument with a section devoted to a core group of axioms; it is necessary that the reader accept these as universally true principles in order for that truth to extend into the rest of his argument. Axioms 1 and 2 state that something in existence can potentially be inShow MoreRelatedLogic1557 Words   |  7 PagesSpinoza’s Argument for Substance Monism and Common Objections Spinoza’s Ethics is widely thought of as Spinoza’s greatest work. One noteworthy claim that he makes in his Ethics is his argument for substance monism, or the existence of only one substance. In Proposition 14, Part I of his Ethics, Spinoza states that â€Å"There can be, or be conceived, no other substance but God.† This statement amounts to saying that everything else in this world, whether it is extended or not, is a mere image of GodRead MoreJohn Spinoza s Theory On Monism1922 Words   |  8 Pageshis theory on monism. Monism is the notion that everything consists of only one thing. For Spinoza, this one thing is a substance he calls God. His monism is the argument that God is the substance which makes up everything. This has been interpreted to work in a variety of ways. In this essay, I am going to argue that Spinoza’s monism does work through one interpretation of the numerical distinction of substances and attributes. First, I will lay out Spino za’s actual argument for monism with its premisesRead MoreWhat Advantages Does Spinoza’s Substance Monism Have over Descartes’ Dualism?3467 Words   |  14 PagesSpinoza’s philosophy as espoused in the Ethics was a response to Descartes’ dualism. Through works such as the Ethics, Spinoza seeks to address the main flaws in Descartes’ philosophy. These flaws included but were by no means limited to, proof for the existence of God and the interaction between mind and body. This essay will highlight the advantages of Spinoza’s monism over Descartes’ dualism by looking at Spinoza’s response to these issues. First, in order to consider the advantages ofRead MoreOutside The Realm Of Philosophical, And Religious, Study1165 Words   |  5 Pagesand religious, study the words substance, and matter, are commonplace definer of a physical material out of which an object of permanence is made of. To the philosophers of the early modern period not only are these terms dissimilar, but also represented radically different ontological theories. The topic of substance is a pillar of philosophy an ontological analysis. The term substance â€Å"corresponds to the Greek ousia, which means ‘being’† (Howard, 2013). Substance, in the philosophical sense, becameRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Cavendish s Baruch Spinoza A Very Unique Monistic System1285 Words   |  6 Pagesout a system consisting of one infinite substance with infinite attributes. The two attributes which we can know are thought and extension. I will argue that the attribute of thought and the attribute of extension co rrelate well with Cavendish’s animate and inanimate matter. I will argue that Spinoza’s system is more coherent than Cavendish’s and solves some of her system’s issues. If it is that case that we desire a system similar to Cavendish’s then Spinoza’s system is a step in the right directionRead MoreDescartes’, Spinoza’s, and Leibniz’s Response to the Mind-Body Problem2993 Words   |  12 Pagestotal separation between mind and body, championed by Descartes, which has come to be known as â€Å"Cartesian Dualism†. This, of course, gave rise to one of the many major responses to the mind-body problem which is the exact opposite of dualism; monism. Monism is the idea that mind and body one and the same thing and therefore have no need for interaction. Another major response to the problem is that given by Leibniz, more commonly known as pre-ordained harmony or monadology. Pre-ordained harmony simplyRead MoreUnpacking S pinoza s Ontological Argument1054 Words   |  5 Pages Unpacking Spinoza’s Ontological Argument in Regards to Monism Baruch Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher who was active in the mid to late 17th century. In Spinoza’s ontological argument he attempts to prove the existence of God as the root of all things that everything is created from as well as proving that God is the only true substance. According to Spinoza, â€Å"It pertains to the nature of a substance to exist† (Spinoza). This means that Spinoza believes existence is a necessary property of anyRead MoreDualism In Descartes : The Mind And Body Dualism1039 Words   |  5 Pagesthe body to conduct physical activity. The pineal gland is also responsible for the body being capable of causing certain sensations in the mind. That type of interaction was, what he believed to be, essential for all existing, living beings. The argument that Descartes made consisted of two statements which he perceived to be true. He asserted that the essence of one’s mind was completely different than that of one’s body. It was from this claim that Descartes conceded that the mind was a thinkingRead MoreIn Philosophy, There Are Going To Be Some Agreements And1393 Words   |  6 PagesIn philosophy, there are going to be some agreements and disagreements among philosopher’s, but the most compelling of them all is Descartes’ and Spinoza’s take in regards to mind and body, and God and free will, God existence. I will compare and contrast Descartes’ and Spinoza’s perspectives on the relationship between mind and body, and God and free will. Maria, there is no fast way to explain all of this as this takes time, so please brace yourself as I hope to provide you with a better understandingRead MoreSpinoza’s Criticism of Descartes’ Substance Dualism2166 Words    |  9 Pagesâ€Å"God is the only substance that can exist or be conceived.† Spinoza’s criticism of Descartes’ substance dualism By: Jawad Samimi 01/04/2012 Substance dualism is often called ‘Cartesian dualism ‎and is the assumption that mind and body are really distinct substances. Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) was the first early modern philosopher to hold that a thinking-thing is entirely different form an extended thing and mind can exist without the body. Cartesian dualism, which started the famous mind-body