(Originally written February 27, 2006 in Book 22)
Class Notes: Spinoza
God
-has infinite attributes through which his essence can be conceived, but only two of them are knowable by man: mind and body
- mind and body are different but not of different substances
- god is substances. substance has infinite attributes, those attributes have infinite modes of being
-double aspect monism (one substance, two attributes)
-self=the two attributes of god (mind and body) united
Spinoza = 1 Substance (god)
Descartes = 2 Substances (mind and body)
Linehan - a set of (very high) of created substances. This tiny sub molecular substances form together to create a physical object or possibly could the elements be the smallest "substance" and that everything that is, is created by the combining of them. This set number of substances combined in various ways combine with other combinations that combine again, again and so forth to form complex objects like human beings.
Leibniz (1646-1716)
Leibniz accused Newton (and vice-versa) of stealing his invention of Calculus.
Leibniz was an overall genius.
Leibniz was a Christian (pious Lutheran)
Sought to unify the Christian Church and all of Europe to a single state.
Epistemology - distinguishes between two types of truth:
1) Truths of reason (a priori). True in all possible worlds.
2) Truths of fact (a posteriori). True in this world and other possible worlds, but not all.
Primary truths (first truths)
-They fall into both categories
Primary truths of fact
ex. "I exist", "something other than me exists"
True proposition: one whose predicate is contained in the subject, "a triangle is three-sided", "Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC"
Leibniz: 2 Sources of Knowledge
1) Senses
- Gives us fluctuating data
- Perceive regularities, not necessities
2) Innate ideas
- From the mind's reflecting on its own operations
Examples: unity, plurality
- Equality, differences, etc.
- "Natural inclinations"
- Contra Locke (mind is not tabula rasa)
- Mind is like "veined marble"
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