Conatus
Damasio continuing on with his homeostasis argument
page 36:
'It is apparent that the continuous attempt at
achieving a state of positively regulated life is
a deep and defining part of our existence -
the first reality of our existence as Spinoza
intuited when he described the relentless
endeavour (conatus) of each being to preserve
itself. Striving, endeavor, and tendency are
three words that come close to rendering the
Latin term conatus, as used by Spinoza in
Propositions 6,7 and 8 of the Ethics, Part II.
In Spinoza's own words: 'Each thing, as far
as it can by its own power, tries to preserve
in its being' and 'The striving by which each
thing strives to preserve in its being is nothing
but the actual essence of a thing'. Interpreted
with the advantages of current hindsight,
Spinoza's notion implies that the living
organism is constructed so as to maintain the
coherence of its structures and functions against
numerous life-threatening odds.'
it's clear from this that Damasio thinks
homeostasis is a modern rendering of conatus.
what needs to be understood here is that for
Spinoza the essence of existence is existence -
there is no other reason - what exists exists
because it exists
the point of existing is to exist
it's really as naked as this
Spinoza does not say how one does or should exist -
what it is to preserve in being
this is essentially an open question
if it's a question at all
for what substance - its modifications - and modes - do
is - preserve in being
it's not as if there is one way or another
a matter of choice
everything you do is to the preservation of your being
for some - who think - maintaining existence is one
thing and not the other
one way and not the other
Spinoza must appear as utterly subversive
subversive in that his view of the essence of man
subverts any - particular conception
homeostasis - is a fair enough idea
but let's say homeostasis was not what biological
science suggested
that some other conception was regarded as the
true view
the point is - Spinoza's conatus - his theory of
conatus - would be in no way affected
