Ethics. Part 1

Question 1

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 1

Answer 1

By that which is self-caused or self-explained I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.

Question 2

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 2

Answer 2

A thing is called finite or limited by its nature when it can be limited by another thing of the same nature; for instance, a body is called finite or limited because we always conceive another greater body. So, also, a thought is finite or limited by another thought, but a body is not limited by thought, nor a thought limited by body.

Question 3

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 3

Answer 3

By reality or existence I mean that which is in itself, and is conceived through itself; in other words, that of which a conception can be formed independently of any other conception.

Question 4

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 4

Answer 4

By attribute or featural aspect I mean that which the intellect perceives as constituting the essence of reality or existence.

Question 5

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 5

Answer 5

By ‘mode’ I mean the modifications, manifestations, or arrangements of being of reality or existence, or that which exists in, and is conceived through, something other than itself.

Question 6

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 6

Answer 6

By God, I mean a being absolutely infinite–that is, a substance consisting in infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality.

Question 7

Ethics
Part 1
EXPLANATION
DEFINITION 6

Answer 7

By Nature I mean a being absolutely infinite or limitless—that is, a reality consisting in infinite attributes or featural aspects, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality

Question 8

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 7

Answer 8

That thing is called ‘free,’ which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone. On the other hand, that thing is necessary, or rather constrained, compelled or forced toward a certain course of action, which is determined by something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of existence or action.

Question 9

Ethics
Part 1
DEFINITION 8

Answer 9

By ‘eternity’ I mean existence itself, in so far as it is conceived necessarily to follow solely from the definition of that which is eternal.

Question 10

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 1

Answer 10

Everything which exists, exists either in itself or in something else.

Question 11

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 3

Answer 11

From a given definite cause an effect necessarily follows; and, on the other hand, if no definite cause be granted, it is impossible that an effect can follow.

Question 12

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 4

Answer 12

The knowledge of an effect depends on and involves the knowledge of a cause (or explanation.)

Question 13

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 2

Answer 13

That which cannot be conceived through anything else must be conceived through itself.

Question 14

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 5

Answer 14

Things which have nothing in common cannot be understood, the one by means of the other; the conception of one does not involve the conception of the other.

Question 15

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 7

Answer 15

If a thing can be conceived as non-existing, its essence does not involve existence.

Question 16

Ethics
Part 1
AXIOM 6

Answer 16

A true idea must correspond with its ideate or object.

Question 17

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 1

Answer 17

Prop. I. Reality is by nature prior to its modifications.

Question 18

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 2

Answer 18

Prop. II. Two substances, whose attributes are different, have nothing in common.

Question 19

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 3

Answer 19

Prop. III. Things which have nothing in common cannot be one the cause or explanation of the other.

Question 20

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 4

Answer 20

Prop. IV. Two or more distinct things are distinguished one from the other, either by the difference of the attributes or featural aspects of the realities or existences, or by the difference of their modifications, manifestations, or arrangements of being.

Question 21

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 5

Answer 21

Prop. V. There cannot exist in the universe two or more realities or existences having the same nature or featural aspect.

Question 22

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 6

Answer 22

Prop. VI. One reality or essence cannot be produced by another reality or essence.

Question 23

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 7

Answer 23

Prop. VII. It belongs to the nature of reality to exist.

Question 24

Ethics
Part 1
PROPOSITION 8

Answer 24

Prop. VIII. Every reality, essence, or basic significance is necessarily infinite or limitless.

Question 25

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 9

Answer 25

Prop. IX. The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the number of its attributes. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prop. IX. The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the number of its featural aspects

Question 26

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 10

Answer 26

Prop. X. Each particular attribute of the one substance must be conceived through itself. --------------------------------------------------------- Prop. X. Each particular attribute or featural aspect of the one reality must be conceived through itself.

Question 27

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 11

Answer 27

Prop. XI. God, or substance consisting of infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, necessarily exists. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 28

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 12

Answer 28

Prop. XII. No attribute of substance can be conceived, from which it would follow that substance can be divided. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 29

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 13

Answer 29

Prop. XIII. Substance absolutely infinite is indivisible. | ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 30

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 14

Answer 30

Prop. XIV. Besides God no substance can be granted or conceived. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 31

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 15

Answer 31

Prop. XV. Whatsoever is, is in God, and without God nothing can be, or be conceived. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 32

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 16

Answer 32

Prop. XVI. From the necessity of the divine nature must follow an infinite number of things in infinite ways--that is, all things which fall within the sphere of infinite intellect. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 33

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 17

Answer 33

Prop. XVII. God acts solely by the laws of his own nature and is not constrained by anyone. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 34

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 18

Answer 34

Prop. XVIII. God is the indwelling and not the transient cause of all things. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 35

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 19

Answer 35

Prop. XIX. God and all the attributes of God are eternal. | ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 36

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 20

Answer 36

Prop. XX. The existence of God and his essence are one and the same. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 37

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 21

Answer 37

Prop. XXI. All things, which follow from the absolute nature of any attribute of God, must always exist and be infinite, or, in other words, are eternal and infinite through the said attribute. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 38

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 22

Answer 38

Prop. XXII. Whatever follows from any attribute of God, in so far as it is modified by a modification, which exists necessarily and as infinite through the said attribute, must also exist necessarily and as infinite. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 39

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 23

Answer 39

Prop. XXIII. Every mode, which exists both necessarily and as infinite, must necessarily follow either from the absolute nature of some attribute of God, or from an attribute modified by a modification, which exists necessarily and as infinite. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 40

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 24

Answer 40

Prop. XXIV. The essence of things produced by God does not involve existence. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 41

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 25

Answer 41

Prop. XXV. God is the efficient cause not only of the existence of things, but also of their essence. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 42

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 26

Answer 42

Prop. XXVI. A thing, which is conditioned to act in a particular manner, has necessarily been thus conditioned by God; and that which has not been conditioned by God cannot condition itself to act. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 43

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 27

Answer 43

Prop. XXVII. A thing, which has been conditioned by God to act in a particular way, cannot render itself unconditioned. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 44

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 28

Answer 44

Prop. XXVIII. Every individual thing, or everything which is finite and has a conditioned existence, cannot exist or be conditioned to act, unless it be conditioned for existence and action by a cause other than itself, which also is finite and has a conditioned existence; and likewise this cause cannot in its turn exist or be conditioned to act, unless it be conditioned for existence and action by another cause, which also is finite and has a conditioned existence, and so on to infinity. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 45

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 29

Answer 45

Prop. XXIX. Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular manner by the necessity of the divine nature. ----------------------------------------------------------

Question 46

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 30

Answer 46

Prop. XXX. Intellect, in function finite, or in function infinite, must comprehend the attributes of God and the modifications of God, and nothing else. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXX. Intellect, in function (actu) finite and limited, or in function infinite and limitless, must comprehend the attributes or featural aspects of Nature and the modifications, manifestations, or arrangements of being of Nature, and nothing else.

Question 47

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 31

Answer 47

Prop. XXXI. The intellect in function, whether finite or infinite, as will, desire, love, etc., should be referred to passive nature, and not to active nature. --------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXI. The intellect in function, whether finite and limited or infinite and limitless, as will, desire, love, &c., should be referred to passive Nature and not to active Nature.

Question 48

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 32

Answer 48

Prop. XXXII. Will cannot be called a free cause, but only a necessary cause. --------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXII. Will cannot be called a free cause or explanation, but only a necessary cause or explanation.

Question 49

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 33

Answer 49

Prop. XXXIII. Things could not have been brought into being by God in any manner or in any order different from that which has in fact obtained. --------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXIII. Things could not have been brought into being by Nature in any manner or in any order different from that which has in fact obtained.

Question 50

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 34

Answer 50

Prop. XXXIV. God's power is identical with his essence. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXIV. Nature's power is identical with Nature's essence (the properties without which Nature would not exist or be what it is.)

Question 51

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 35

Answer 51

Prop. XXXV. Whatsoever we conceive to be in the power of God, necessarily exists. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXV. Whatsoever we conceive to be in the power of Nature, necessarily exists.

Question 52

Ethics Part 1 PROPOSITION 35

Answer 52

Prop. XXXVI. There is no cause from whose nature some effect does not follow. ---------------------------------------------------------- Prop. XXXVI. There is no cause or explanation from whose nature some effect does not follow.