1. 1 The Rationalists: Spinoza Human Beings Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

2. 2Outline 1. Reminder and Introduction 2. Thought and Extension 3. Mind and Body in Human beings 4. Knowledge 5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

3. 3Reminder: Spinoza’s Metaphysics Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

4. 4Introduction The problem of the fundamental constituents of reality: Bodies and Ideas Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana MONISM One kind of stuff DUALISM Two kinds of stuff Materialism (Hobbes)Mind-Body dualism (Descartes) Idealism (Berkeley) Problem: how to reduce?Problem: how do they interact? Example: I raise my arm / seeing an eagle fly

5. 5Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Reminder and Introduction 2. Thought and Extension 3. Mind and Body in Human beings 4. Knowledge 5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

6. 6 Thought and Extension: Attributes of the Substance Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Two faces of the same coin: - Attributes: ways of comprehending the unique substance - Ex: the circle Consequence There is an idea for everything in God – everything has a “soul” The thought – extension problem (dis)solved: The order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of things Note on “Parallelism”

7. 7Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Reminder and Introduction 2. Thought and Extension 3. Mind and Body in Human beings 4. Knowledge 5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

8. 8 Humans, their Soul and Body Mode, Modes of the Attributes Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Humans: Not substances, hence must be modes of the substance Body and Soul: the two faces of the same coin PERSON (Mode) Extension: BODY Conceived as:Thought: SOUL

9. 9 Humans, their Soul and Body Inertia and Conatus Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Essential characteristics of every being: The strive to persevere in its being Extension: INERTIA Conceived as:Thought: CONATUS

10. 10 Humans, their Soul and Body Individuality Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Problem: How do we conceive ourselves as ONE? What is an individual? Spinoza’s basic physics: - Simple bodies: not atoms – ideas in God - Composed bodies Individuals: - Bodies: distinguished through the difference in movement - Individual: Group of bodies with coordinated movement

11. 11 Human Beings Faculties Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana No Free will Just like any other mode: necessary consequence of God’s nature Our lives = Affections: - Affections: both in our body and our mind - Body and Soul work in parallel causal orders - Passions vs. Actions – decrease or increase our power Imagination: - Faculty of representation - Source of error - Positive power: to transform passions into actions

12. 12Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Reminder and Introduction 2. Thought and Extension 3. Mind and Body in Human beings 4. Knowledge 5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

13. 13 Knowledge (1) Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana First kind – Imagination or opinion - Method: sense-perception, words, induction - Object: general properties - Result: Confuse and inadequate - Example: ourselves as limited in space and time

14. 14 Knowledge (2) Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Second Kind – Reason - Method: common notions, logical inferences - Object: common properties of things (sciences) - Result: knowledge of necessary truths, adequate ideas Adequate idea: Object understood (1) in its true necessity; (2)“sub specie aeternitatis” Example: ourselves as necessary modes

15. 15 Knowledge (3) Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Third Kind -- Intuition - Method: immediate knowledge - Object: essence of particulars - Result: understanding of the necessity of everything, of the infinite Prospects: -If attainable, then mystical experience -If attained, then highest blessedness

16. 16Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Reminder and Introduction 2. Thought and Extension 3. Mind and Body in Human beings 4. Knowledge 5. Conclusion: Freedom and Well-Being within the Realm of Necessity

17. 17Conclusion Practical advantages Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Love against Hate Joy Increase in power Affection Sadness Decrease in power Love Reaction toward cause Hate 2. Understanding and the tranquility of the mind -- Actions 3. Servitude = arrogance and despotism 4. Intellectual love of God = us as adequate causes and true blessedness 5. Free Republic