the fact is substance cannot be seen from the outside
and yet we get such an impression from Spinoza -
re: sub specie aeternitatis
the whole - the totality - is a conception
a conception that comes from consciousness
consciousness sees outside itself (at least we can
begin with this idea)
consciousness distinguishes itself from what it is not -
what it is not - is the world
we can say it knows itself - as within - therefore
(at least) an outside
the totality - nature or God - is a conception
generated from the nature of consciousness
consciousness - distinguishes x from not-x
such is logic - the basis of it
and so substance - a conception generated by the logic
of consciousness - of thought
consciousness reflects in itself and places itself
within -
as to the nature of that which is outside of
consciousness - or greater than
we never get out of the realm of ideas -
whatever our conception
we never that is have a privileged position -
(not in reality - even if it is projected in
thought) - of being outside of the world
there is - that is no objective position
a position that is outside of consciousness
(such an idea makes no sense)
Spinoza does not understand consciousness - its logic -
its dynamic - its limits
the world outside of consciousness cannot be objectively
known -
cannot be directly known
if direct means - in some way - knowledge that is not
finally a processing of - what - data?
and this data is not known
its character is not given -
it is made - constructed
the construction goes on - on a number of levels -
(a divine comedy)
and however simple or complex
it is a function of consciousness
no real substance here either
as it is up to consciousness - its reflection on itself
- to come up with a conception - of its own functioning
it is clear - the knowing of consciousness is an illusion
- inside or out
consciousness is a metaphysical point (there are many)
on a metaphysical map
a focus - (whatever in the end this means) - that stands
in the world
simply - a point - that is substanceless - the unknown
