Spinoza

Question 1

The definition of substances, modes/states and attributes.

Answer 1

substance: Exists in itself. It is an ontologically independent thing. Meaning it needs nothing else to exist.

Test: Can you think about it without thinking of anything else ? For example, “sharpness” cannot exist without a “knife,” so “sharpness” is not ontologically independent. In contrast, God’s existence doesn’t depend on anything else, which means God is ontologically independent.

Attributes: Perceived essence of a substance.

If we go back to the cartesian system there would be two substances: the body would have the attribute extends in space. The mind would have the mental as attribute.

Modes / states: The way a substance is configured. Its existence is ontologically dependent.

Spinoza is saying God is the only substance, and everything in the universe are states of God.

Question 2

What distinguishes substances from each other (150 words)

Answer 2

Something is either a mode (a state) of a substance or a substance itself.

Substances are distinguished by their attributes.

Example: Water = H20

A single substance can also have different states or modes.

Example: Ice, water, steam

Question 3

Why are substances infinite? (200 - 250 words)

Answer 3

1. Things are either finite or infinite.
2. If things are finite, then something must bring it to its end. This has a causal connection.

Example: the human body comes to an end because our body damages as we get older and deteriorates when we are dead.

3. If two substances have different kinds of attributes, they cannot interact with each other (mind and body).
4. If two substances cannot interact with each other then one substance cannot cause the other to end.
5. If a substance is finite, its end must be caused by something. The only thing that can stop it, is itself.
6. So substances must be infinite.

Question 4

The reason for thinking that we cannot divide substances

Answer 4

If you have one substance and you divide it in two there are two options as how to divide it.

1: You give each substance the same attributes. But if they have the same attributes then they are just the same substance.

2: You give each substance half of the substances and the other substance the other halve. This is in conflict with P8, that substances are infinite.

Question 5

The reason for thinking substances necessarily exist

Answer 5

1. Substances are made distinct from one another either by a difference in their attributes or by a difference in their states
2. Substances can’t be caused by other substances
3. Substances are prior to their states. So substances cannot be caused by their states
4. Thus, a feature of substance is that they exist in themselves
5. So, one aspect of the nature of substances is that they exist

Question 6

What is spinoza’s aim

Answer 6

• Spinoza wants to find the fundamental thing in the universe
• That is, we want the starting point of the universe
• This starting point is what we will call a ‘substance’ (Which, as we will see, is God)