substance expresses itself - which is to say it exists -
as part of this we see - perceive - substance
from - substance - that is as modes of it -
(there is actually no other position - even God?
what can God see on this view?
one would think the totality sees nothing
for it is the total
only a part can see the whole - or see into it
God or nature simply exists
hence the point of view of eternity - is no point of
view at all
except perhaps - poetic)
we perceive the world from the world - in the world -
what we perceive is what is - though not all of what is
(on this view there is an argument that the totality
is not cannot be perceived)
what we perceive - are attributes of substance - existence -
characteristics
extension and mind
attributes - that make up - that are - the mode - we are
we perceive our own characteristics
the body is a form of matter
the mind - of thought
still a question -
does thought recognize thought?
do I perceive another mind - with my mind - as it were -
directly?
interesting -
I for one think this is so
but while space / matter is obviously everywhere
thought is not obviously so -
the problem for parallelism
God / nature - the totality - expresses itself in these
attributes
do we have any reason to think there are other attributes?
Spinoza says - yes otherwise God / nature is limited
but this is really no argument -
what if the world is just extension and thought?
it appears so at least -
and that these attributes are infinite?
still the limit of two attributes - expressions
yes
but saying there are an infinity of attributes -
does away with the limit of attributes
but to what consequence?
what is substance other than its attributes -
infinite number or not?
Spinoza says attributes are perceived essences
attributes are thus what we know
beyond that is what we don't know
Spinoza of course would not have wished to concede to
scepticism
and it is his avoidance of this reality
that has led to his theory of substance
instead of accepting that we don't know what we don't know
Spinoza says - reality is infinite
for all intents and purposes -
the unknown
