Spinoza: reflection and argument

substance or reality – independent of description is unknown

there are any number of ways reality can be conceived – can be described – an infinity of ways –

for Spinoza there are two fundamental descriptions – physical – extension –

or ideational – mind

we can order our ‘experience’ – in physical terms – or in terms of ideas

question: is not physics an idea?

can we talk of extension as separate from the mind?

well for Spinoza – yes – for an idea must have an object – and the object of an idea is a body

I take the view that the ‘body’ – is just an ideational description

and that the ‘mind’ is too

that the fundamental is – unknown

that the object of knowledge is the unknown

which is to say that the reality that we experience – is the reality – we describe – in whatever way

this is not to say that we start with nothing

the world that we come into is described

we are in the world and of it –

descriptions – in description

what is given – is given – but without description – is unknown

now as to extension and mind

these are possible descriptions

how do we describe ourselves?

Spinoza says – in terms of body and mind

and what are we – without these descriptions – without description?

unknowns

© greg t. charlton. 2013.