'By cause of itself, I understand that whose essence
involves existence; or that, whose nature cannot be
conceived unless existing.'
'whose essence involves existence' -
that which exists
cause of itself therefore - that which exists
that which exists is that which exists
'whose nature cannot be conceived unless existing'
i.e.
you can't have the conception of x
unless x exits
is this to say -
what exits determines what can be thought?
yes
so the first part says
the cause of itself is that which exists
and the second part
that which exists cannot be conceived unless it exists
so again
conception dependent on existence
is it essential that anything in particular exists?
and what does this question mean?
is the existence of a particular thing anything but
accidental?
is it necessary that a particular thing exists?
one would think not -
as the existence of any particular thing - it seems
is a contingent matter
OK
is it necessary that something exists
that existence - exists
well this concept of existence - is - in fact nowhere
to be found in re
the concept is a universalization of particularity
what exists is particular entities
existence is not a particular entity
it is a conception - with no particularity - or existence -
except as a conception
one would think it cannot be 'that whose essence involves
xistence'
and of particular things -
again it seems there is no essence to them
that which is cause of itself
cause of itself
eternity?
a conception yes
its existence -
as that which we don't - cannot know
essentially a negative concept
(with positive overtones)
