the ethics(part ii)-第2部分
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modes of thought; does not follow from the divine nature;
because that nature has prior knowledge of the things。 Things
represented in ideas follow; and are derived from their
particular attribute; in the same manner; and with the same
necessity as ideas follow (according to what we have shown) from
the attribute of thought。
VII。 The order and connection of ideas is the same as the order
and connection of things。
》》》》》ProofThis proposition is evident from Part i。; Ax。 iv。
For the idea of everything that is caused depends on a
knowledge of the cause; whereof it is an effect。
ProofThis proposition is evident from the last; it is
understood more clearly from the preceding note。
ProofThe idea of an individual thing actually existing is
an individual mode of thinking; and is distinct from other modes
(by the Cor。 and Note to Prop。 viii。 of this part); thus (by
Prop。 vi。 of this part) it is caused by God; in so far only as he
is a thinking thing。 But not (by Prop。 xxviii。 of Part i。) in
so far as he is a thing thinking absolutely; only in so far as
he is considered as affected by another mode of thinking; and he
is the cause of this latter; as being affected by a third; and
so on to infinity。 Now; the order and connection of ideas is
(by Prop。 vii。 of this book) the same as the order and connection
of causes。 Therefore of a given individual idea another
individual idea; or God; in so far as he is considered as
modified by that idea; is the cause; and of this second idea God
is the cause; in so far as he is affected by another idea; and
so on to infinity。 Q。E。D。
ProofWhatsoever takes place in the object of any idea; its
idea is in God (by Prop。 iii。 of this part); not in so far as he
is infinite; but in so far as he is considered as affected by
another idea of an individual thing (by the last Prop。); but (by
Prop。 vii。 of this part) the order and connection of ideas is
the same as the order and connection of things。 The knowledge;
therefore; of that which takes place in any individual object
will be in God; in so far only as he has the idea of that
object。 Q。E。D。
X。 The being of substance does not appertain to the essence of
manin other words; substance does not constitute the actual
being (forma) of man。
》》》》》ProofThe being of substance involves necessary existence
(Part i。; Prop。 vii。)。 If; therefore; the being of substance
appertains to the essence of man; substance being granted; man
would necessarily be granted also (II。 Def。 ii。); and;
consequently; man would necessarily exist; which is absurd (II。
Ax。 i。)。 Therefore &c。 Q。E。D。
*****NoteThis proposition may also be proved from I。v。; in
which it is shown that there cannot be two substances of the
same nature; for as there may be many men; the being of
substance is not that which constitutes the actual being of man。
Again; the proposition is evident from the other properties of
substancenamely; that substance is in its nature infinite;
immutable; indivisible; &c。; as anyone may see for himself。