StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
In Proposition 7 of his text The Ethics, Spinoza makes the argument that “the order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of things” (149). In attempting to understand this statement, it is helpful to break it down into its more component parts…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93% of users find it useful
Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2"

Spinoza’s View on Mind and Body In Proposition 7 of his text The Ethics, Spinoza makes the argument that “the order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of things” (149). In attempting to understand this statement, it is helpful to break it down into its more component parts. For example, it helps to point out that in the above statement, the word ideas actually refers to the modes of thought Spinoza talks about while the word things refers to the modes of extension, which are not synonymous with the concept of substances.

The basic idea seems to be that when one event causes another event, the idea of the first event can be logically followed to the idea of the second event. While the event and the idea are not the same thing, there is a connection such that if one followed the connection between a series of events, they will come to the same conclusions as if they followed the connection between a series of ideas. While it may seem that Spinoza is attempting to suggest that the idea and the extension occur simultaneously or that they are the same thing, this is not what the philosopher intended at all.

The primary idea Spinoza was attempting to convey was that the processes were the same, but that there is a distinct difference between things and ideas. “As long as things are considered as modes of thought, we must explicate the order of the whole of Nature, or the connection of causes, through the attribute of thought alone” (Spinoza 151). Basically, Spinoza is saying that there are many ways to describe the same process but none of these descriptions are necessarily the actual cause of the process nor is the process dependent on the description, thus making a clear disconnect between process and idea.

A more updated example of what Spinoza is saying is helpful for understanding of this concept. During the course of a small space of time, a person watching television becomes bored with the program, picks up the remote control and changes the channel to something else. The process involves the individual losing interest in the program, physically lifting the remote and pressing a button in response to which the television changes channels. The idea of the connection of causes could be described as it has been above, or it could be described as a complex process of inactive neurons in the brain, new neurons engaging, muscles flexing or releasing, electronic signals being sent and received.

There are a number of other ways it might be described as well, all of which describe the same process and are intimately inherent in the actual process but none of which must be present or considered in order for the process to occur. These concepts lead to Spinoza’s ideas regarding the mind and body, which he considers as separate entities that are similarly intimately linked. In keeping with his concept of the connections of thought as there being several different ways of connecting the same process, so the mind discovers several different ways of connecting ideas of things, which are external to the body, to the thing that is the body.

In other words, we don’t really have experience of the physical tree; what we have is the idea of how the tree causes us to feel about it, how our body reacts to it becomes a further idea of the tree. While we often mistakenly feel as if we know the thing, we are necessarily mistaken as all we are capable of knowing is one or perhaps two ideas of the thing as we understand from its effects on our own body. We can never truly know the thing because the thing and the idea are always separate parts of the same things.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 Essay”, n.d.)
Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552669-philosophy-spinoza-the-ethics-proposition-7-of-part-2
(Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 Essay)
Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 Essay. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552669-philosophy-spinoza-the-ethics-proposition-7-of-part-2.
“Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2 Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1552669-philosophy-spinoza-the-ethics-proposition-7-of-part-2.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Philosophy: Spinoza: The Ethics. Proposition 7 of Part 2

Espinosa: A Life

The author shows several names of individuals who met or were part of Baruch de Spinosa' life, concepts, and conversations.... Seymour Feldman's introduction to Spinoza's ethics indicated that Feldman praised... Baruch de spinoza was the child of the prominent businessman from the Portuguese-Jewish community.... However, Baruch de spinoza was excommunicated from Jewish religion because he espoused a different concept of God and the Jewish religion as a whole1....
10 Pages (2500 words) Research Paper

The Metaphysics

The innate knowledge thesis states that there is knowledge of various truths in certain subject areas, say, S, as part of human rationale nature.... Question Three ethics is the discipline of moral righteousness of human acts as guided by the... Both spinoza and Descartes associated using reason with mathematics.... Rationalism also agrees with theology, which can be seen in spinoza's and Descartes' thought that the existence of God can rationally be demonstrated (Boyle 114)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Spinozas Conception of God

In his writings, especially the ethics, Benedict de Spinoza logically defined existence and provided logical proof of his definitions.... What Spinoza was attempting was a definition of the nature of God and of all existence In his writings, especially the ethics, Benedict de Spinoza logically defined existence and provided logical proof of his definitions.... hellip; In the readings consulted, spinoza did not really argue for or against the existence of God, though he stated that the existence of God was a logical conclusion....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Swot Analysis, Current Issues and Challenges of Procter and Gamble

Since consumers are aware of the ethics behind production and the need for corporate social responsibility, this may affect the marketability of its products.... Leading change, innovation, strategy, utilization of the power of knowledge and learning, discipline and thoroughness are part of Procter and Gamble's ideals of best practice.... Only those companies which are oriented towards customer satisfaction, practice business ethics and have social responsibility can survive and grow in contemporary times....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Baruch Spinoza's Solution to the Inside Outside Problem

Baruch de spinoza (1632 – 1677), also known by the Christianized version of his name Benedict, explained his concept of a God as opposed to the traditional Judeo – Christian one.... The aim of this essay is to assume the first assertion to be true and explain spinoza's system of philosophy which attempts to solve this problem (often referred to as the inside – outside problem.... The essay will also try and solve the inside – outside problem using the principles propounded by spinoza in Ethics2....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

The Cosmology Theory and Sikhism

In this paper, the Sikh approach towards the cosmological theory will be evaluated.... The idea of this research emerged from the author's interest and fascination in how the Punjab based religion has contributed to progressive development of the cosmology creation perspectives… According to the study, cosmology theory has existed for over half a decade and has attempted to explain the existence of the universe and the Supreme Being....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Baruch Spinoza: Philosophical Perspectives

nbsp; While little is precisely known about Spinoza's actions during this period there is the assumption that in large part his views directly opposed those in the Jewish tradition.... "Baruch spinoza: Philosophical Perspectives" paper examines spinoza's background in terms of how it influences his perspectives.... The paper examines spinoza's philosophical perspectives, arguing that spinoza embraced a deterministic vision of the world and equated God with an infinite substance....
7 Pages (1750 words) Coursework

Espinosa: A Life

However, Baruch de spinoza was excommunicated from Jewish religion because he espoused a different concept of God and the Jewish religion as a whole1.... Baruch was an intelligent.... hellip; After Baruch de Spinosa was excommunicated from the Jewish Community, Baruch de Spinosa was later expelled from Amsterdam....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us