Spinoza: Concerning God: Definitions

cause of itself

‘that which cannot be conceived without existing’

is that for which no account can be given

finite in its kind

conceived as a ‘kind of thing’

and as such – limited by  its kind

substance

as that which is conceived through itself

‘conceived through itself’?

a conception – conceiving – conception –

a pure conception –

it is the logical place –

for conception

attribute

that which the intellect perceives as constituting the essence of a substance

attribute –

a perception of essence –

‘perceives’ for Spinoza –

is passive –

i.e. – what is ‘given’ –

however what is perceived –

without being conceived –

is unknown

that is to say the unknown –

is given description –

i.e. as ‘extension’ or ‘mind’ – or whatever

mode

modifications – effects of a substance – of conception –

through which it may be further conceived

(mode and attribute – the difference?

both are conceptions of substance –

conceptions of conception

the attribute is a more general conception)                                              

God

God = substance –

or the fact – the logical fact –

of conception

(substance – is the logical place for conception

attribute – a conception –

mode – a modification – of a conception

‘God’ – substance)

free

the necessity of its own nature?

that which exists independent of conception –

of account – of explanation –

that which is unknown

eternity

existence itself

that for which no conception

can be given –

or is required

© greg t. charlton. 2013.