Post #3: Spinoza

Explain Spinoza’s pantheistic philosophy in depth and then explain how it relates to ethics. Now apply Spinoza’s understanding to the world today. How might his view impact how you live in the world?

Spinoza’s philosophy if grounded in reason. He begins by explaining his concept of God. He presents his argument through fourteen propositions. According to Spinoza, God existed prior to creation and existence. God was not created by something other than itself. Anything that exists does so because of God or else, it is a part of God. God acts out of necessity. In other words, Spinoza thinks that God is “infinite, necessary and uncaused, indivisible,” and most importantly, everything. Thus, if God is everything, anything that follows everything does so via “divine nature.” According to Spinoza, this “divine nature” is twofold. There is a “naturing Nature” and there is the “natured Nature” Simply put, there is God and there is everything else created and sustained by God. Spinoza’s concept of God is not meant for reverence but more for understanding. Approached this way, one is able to “reveal Nature’s most important truths and shows how everything depends essentially and existentially on higher natural causes.”

With Nature spilling it secrets, Spinoza posits that knowledge is to be derived “from random experience,” “intuition,” and “Reason.” Knowledge acquired “from random experience” is knowledge that is “determined by causes.” It is the knowledge that one acquires via the senses; chance encounters and very little thought process. Knowledge acquired by “Reason” requires a deeper understanding. It’s the knowledge that “shows not just that is, but how and why it is.” Finally, knowledge acquired by “intuition,” is no more than the utilization of “Reason” at any given moment.

Spinoza thinks an understanding of how knowledge derived from God, or Nature, will help man conceptualize his role in the very same Nature. Spinoza claims man lives either through an affect of action or an affect of passion. An affect of action is any change that stems within self. An affect of passion is any change that is brought forth by an outside source. An understanding of such knowledge will allow man to persevere in the world and pursue those things that will add to his life and avoid those that are a detriment. Spinoza illustrates the importance of the application of “Reason” and the folly of falling victim to passion. Spinoza continues that man will reason that the only way to live is living virtuously and that entails an understanding of “things through the third kind of knowledge.” That is, one should look at things “situated in their relationship to God and his attributes.” This view allows man to see the necessity of his existence and his relation to all things. This, in turn, frees man from his attachments to the world and his fears of the unknown.

Spinoza’s philosophy relates to ethics in that it accounts for a practical task. Spinoza is suggesting that life need not be burdensome. Once one understands the interconnected-ness of all things, life becomes simple and meaningful. This, in turn, allows one to impact his family, community, and the world at large.

If applied today, I think Spinoza’s philosophy would thrive. I think the world is starting to look at the bigger picture due to globalization and global warming. In turn, I think that there is a greater appreciation for nature. Also, with the world being more accepting of secularization, Spinoza’s philosophy would make sense. I think it would have the kind of impact that would shrink the world. There wouldn’t be a need to consume resources or destroy habitats. The understanding that it’s all connected will wake man from his arrogant slumber.