Ethics by Benedictus de Spinoza
page 52 of 298 (17%)
page 52 of 298 (17%)
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III. Modes of thinking, such as love, desire, or any other of
the passions, do not take place, unless there be in the same individual an idea of the thing loved, desired, &c. But the idea can exist without the presence of any other mode of thinking. IV. We perceive that a certain body is affected in many ways. V. We feel and perceive no particular things, save bodies and modes of thought. N.B. The Postulates are given after the conclusion of Prop. xiii. PROPOSITIONS PROP. I. Thought is an attribute of God, or God is a thinking thing. Proof.-Particular thoughts, or this and that thought, are modes which, in a certain conditioned manner, express the nature of God (Pt. i., Prop. xxv., Coroll.). God therefore possesses the attribute (Pt. i., Def. v.) of which the concept is involved in all particular thoughts, which latter are conceived thereby. Thought, therefore, is one of the infinite attributes of God, which express God's eternal and infinite essence (Pt. i., Def. vi.). In other words, God is a thinking thing. Q.E.D. Note.-This proposition is also evident from the fact, that we are able to conceive an infinite thinking being. For, in proportion as a thinking being is conceived as thinking more thoughts, so is it conceived as containing more reality or |
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