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diff --git a/old/ethic10.txt b/old/ethic10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f102382 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ethic10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9327 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Ethics, by Benedict de Spinoza +#11 in our series by Benedict de Spinoza + +This is the plain .txt file. . .for the Word file with hyperlinks, +please get the ethic10w.doc or ethic10w.zip file. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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A thing is called finite after its kind, when it can be +limited by another thing of the same nature ; for instance, a +body is called finite because we always conceive another greater +body. So, also, a thought is limited by another thought, but a +body is not limited by thought, nor a thought by body. + +III. By substance, I mean that which is in itself, and is +conceived through itself : in other words, that of which a +conception can be formed independently of any other conception. + +IV. By attribute, I mean that which the intellect perceives as +constituting the essence of substance. + +V. By mode, I mean the modifications1 of substance, or that +which exists in, and is conceived through, something other than +itself. + +VI. By God, I mean a being absolutely infinite-that is, a +substance consisting in infinite attributes, of which each +expresses eternal and infinite essentiality. + Explanation-I say absolutely infinite, not infinite after its +kind : for, of a thing infinite only after its kind, infinite +attributes may be denied ; but that which is absolutely infinite, +contains in its essence whatever expresses reality, and involves +no negation. + +VII. That thing is called free, which exists solely by the +necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is +determined by itself alone. On the other hand, that thing is +necessary, or rather constrained, which is determined by +something external to itself to a fixed and definite method of +existence or action. + +VIII. By eternity, I mean existence itself, in so far as it is +conceived necessarily to follow solely from the definition of +that which is eternal. + Explanation-Existence of this kind is conceived as an eternal +truth, like the essence of a thing, and, therefore, cannot be +explained by means of continuance or time, though continuance may +be conceived without a beginning or end. + + +AXIOMS. + +I. Everything which exists, exists either in itself or in +something else. + +II. That which cannot be conceived through anything else must be +conceived through itself. + +III. From a given definite cause an effect necessarily follows ; +and, on the other hand, if no definite cause be granted, it is +impossible that an effect can follow. + +IV. The knowledge of an effect depends on and involves the +knowledge of a cause. + +V. Things which have nothing in common cannot be understood, the +one by means of the other ; the conception of one does not +involve the conception of the other. + +VI. A true idea must correspond with its ideate or object. + +VII. If a thing can be conceived as non-existing, its essence +does not involve existence. + + +PROPOSITIONS. + +PROP. I. Substance is by nature prior to its modifications. + Proof.-This is clear from Deff. iii. and v. + +PROP. II. Two substances, whose attributes are different, have +nothing in common. + Proof.-Also evident from Def. iii. For each must exist in +itself, and be conceived through itself ; in other words, the +conception of one does not imply the conception of the other. + +PROP. III. Things which have nothing in common cannot be one the +cause of the other. + Proof.-If they have nothing in common, it follows that one +cannot be apprehended by means of the other (Ax. v.), and, +therefore, one cannot be the cause of the other (Ax. iv.). +Q.E.D. + +PROP. IV. Two or more distinct things are distinguished one from +the other, either by the difference of the attributes of the +substances, or by the difference of their modifications. + Proof.-Everything which exists, exists either in itself or in +something else (Ax. i.),-that is (by Deff. iii. and v.), nothing +is granted in addition to the understanding, except substance and +its modifications. Nothing is, therefore, given besides the +understanding, by which several things may be distinguished one +from the other, except the substances, or, in other words (see +Ax. iv.), their attributes and modifications. Q.E.D. + +PROP. V. There cannot exist in the universe two or more +substances having the same nature or attribute. + Proof.-If several distinct substances be granted, they must +be distinguished one from the other, either by the difference of +their attributes, or by the difference of their modifications +(Prop. iv.). If only by the difference of their attributes, it +will be granted that there cannot be more than one with an +identical attribute. If by the difference of their +modifications-as substance is naturally prior to its +modifications (Prop. i.),-it follows that setting the +modifications aside, and considering substance in itself, that is +truly, (Deff. iii. and vi.), there cannot be conceived one +substance different from another,-that is (by Prop. iv.), there +cannot be granted several substances, but one substance only. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. VI. One substance cannot be produced by another substance. + Proof.-It is impossible that there should be in the universe +two substances with an identical attribute, i.e. which have +anything common to them both (Prop. ii.), and, therefore (Prop. +iii.), one cannot be the cause of the other, neither can one be +produced by the other. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that a substance cannot be +produced by anything external to itself. For in the universe +nothing is granted, save substances and their modifications (as +appears from Ax. i. and Deff. iii. and v.). Now (by the last +Prop.) substance cannot be produced by another substance, +therefore it cannot be produced by anything external to itself. +Q.E.D. This is shown still more readily by the absurdity of the +contradictory. For, if substance be produced by an external +cause, the knowledge of it would depend on the knowledge of its +cause (Ax. iv.), and (by Def. iii.) it would itself not be +substance. + +PROP. VII. Existence belongs to the nature of substances. + Proof.-Substance cannot be produced by anything external +(Corollary, Prop vi.), it must, therefore, be its own cause-that +is, its essence necessarily involves existence, or existence +belongs to its nature. + +PROP. VIII. Every substance is necessarily infinite. + Proof.-There can only be one substance with an identical +attribute, and existence follows from its nature (Prop. vii.) ; +its nature, therefore, involves existence, either as finite or +infinite. It does not exist as finite, for (by Def. ii.) it +would then be limited by something else of the same kind, which +would also necessarily exist (Prop. vii.) ; and there would be +two substances with an identical attribute, which is absurd +(Prop. v.). It therefore exists as infinite. Q.E.D. + Note I.-As finite existence involves a partial negation, and +infinite existence is the absolute affirmation of the given +nature, it follows (solely from Prop. vii.) that every substance +is necessarily infinite. + Note II.-No doubt it will be difficult for those who think +about things loosely, and have not been accustomed to know them +by their primary causes, to comprehend the demonstration of Prop. +vii. : for such persons make no distinction between the +modifications of substances and the substances themselves, and +are ignorant of the manner in which things are produced ; hence +they may attribute to substances the beginning which they observe +in natural objects. Those who are ignorant of true causes, make +complete confusion-think that trees might talk just as well as +men-that men might be formed from stones as well as from seed ; +and imagine that any form might be changed into any other. So, +also, those who confuse the two natures, divine and human, +readily attribute human passions to the deity, especially so long +as they do not know how passions originate in the mind. But, if +people would consider the nature of substance, they would have no +doubt about the truth of Prop. vii. In fact, this proposition +would be a universal axiom, and accounted a truism. For, by +substance, would be understood that which is in itself, and is +conceived through itself-that is, something of which the +conception requires not the conception of anything else ; whereas +modifications exist in something external to themselves, and a +conception of them is formed by means of a conception of the +thing in which they exist. Therefore, we may have true ideas of +non-existent modifications ; for, although they may have no +actual existence apart from the conceiving intellect, yet their +essence is so involved in something external to themselves that +they may through it be conceived. Whereas the only truth +substances can have, external to the intellect, must consist in +their existence, because they are conceived through themselves. +Therefore, for a person to say that he has a clear and +distinct-that is, a true-idea of a substance, but that he is not +sure whether such substance exists, would be the same as if he +said that he had a true idea, but was not sure whether or no it +was false (a little consideration will make this plain) ; or if +anyone affirmed that substance is created, it would be the same +as saying that a false idea was true-in short, the height of +absurdity. It must, then, necessarily be admitted that the +existence of substance as its essence is an eternal truth. And +we can hence conclude by another process of reasoning-that there +is but one such substance. I think that this may profitably be +done at once ; and, in order to proceed regularly with the +demonstration, we must premise :- + 1. The true definition of a thing neither involves nor +expresses anything beyond the nature of the thing defined. From +this it follows that- + 2. No definition implies or expresses a certain number of +individuals, inasmuch as it expresses nothing beyond the nature +of the thing defined. For instance, the definition of a triangle +expresses nothing beyond the actual nature of a triangle : it +does not imply any fixed number of triangles. + 3. There is necessarily for each individual existent thing a +cause why it should exist. + 4. This cause of existence must either be contained in the +nature and definition of the thing defined, or must be postulated +apart from such definition. + It therefore follows that, if a given number of individual +things exist in nature, there must be some cause for the +existence of exactly that number, neither more nor less. For +example, if twenty men exist in the universe (for simplicity's +sake, I will suppose them existing simultaneously, and to have +had no predecessors), and we want to account for the existence of +these twenty men, it will not be enough to show the cause of +human existence in general ; we must also show why there are +exactly twenty men, neither more nor less : for a cause must be +assigned for the existence of each individual. Now this cause +cannot be contained in the actual nature of man, for the true +definition of man does not involve any consideration of the +number twenty. Consequently, the cause for the existence of +these twenty men, and, consequently, of each of them, must +necessarily be sought externally to each individual. Hence we may +lay down the absolute rule, that everything which may consist of +several individuals must have an external cause. And, as it has +been shown already that existence appertains to the nature of +substance, existence must necessarily be included in its +definition ; and from its definition alone existence must be +deducible. But from its definition (as we have shown, notes ii., +iii.), we cannot infer the existence of several substances ; +therefore it follows that there is only one substance of the same +nature. Q.E.D. + +PROP. IX. The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the +number of its attributes (Def. iv.). + +PROP. X. Each particular attribute of the one substance must be +conceived through itself. + Proof.-An attribute is that which the intellect perceives of +substance, as constituting its essence (Def. iv.), and, +therefore, must be conceived through itself (Def. iii.). Q.E.D. + Note-It is thus evident that, though two attributes are, in +fact, conceived as distinct-that is, one without the help of the +other-yet we cannot, therefore, conclude that they constitute two +entities, or two different substances. For it is the nature of +substance that each of its attributes is conceived through +itself, inasmuch as all the attributes it has have always existed +simultaneously in it, and none could be produced by any other ; +but each expresses the reality or being of substance. It is, +then, far from an absurdity to ascribe several attributes to one +substance : for nothing in nature is more clear than that each +and every entity must be conceived under some attribute, and that +its reality or being is in proportion to the number of its +attributes expressing necessity or eternity and infinity. +Consequently it is abundantly clear, that an absolutely infinite +being must necessarily be defined as consisting in infinite +attributes, each of which expresses a certain eternal and +infinite essence. + If anyone now ask, by what sign shall he be able to +distinguish different substances, let him read the following +propositions, which show that there is but one substance in the +universe, and that it is absolutely infinite, wherefore such a +sign would be sought in vain. + +PROP. XI. God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, +of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, +necessarily exists. + Proof.-If this be denied, conceive, if possible, that God +does not exist : then his essence does not involve existence. +But this (Prop. vii.) is absurd. Therefore God necessarily +exists. + Another proof.-Of everything whatsoever a cause or reason +must be assigned, either for its existence, or for its +non-existence-e.g. if a triangle exist, a reason or cause must be +granted for its existence ; if, on the contrary, it does not +exist, a cause must also be granted, which prevents it from +existing, or annuls its existence. This reason or cause must +either be contained in the nature of the thing in question, or be +external to it. For instance, the reason for the non-existence +of a square circle is indicated in its nature, namely, because it +would involve a contradiction. On the other hand, the existence +of substance follows also solely from its nature, inasmuch as its +nature involves existence. (See Prop. vii.) + But the reason for the existence of a triangle or a circle +does not follow from the nature of those figures, but from the +order of universal nature in extension. From the latter it must +follow, either that a triangle necessarily exists, or that it is +impossible that it should exist. So much is self-evident. It +follows therefrom that a thing necessarily exists, if no cause or +reason be granted which prevents its existence. + If, then, no cause or reason can be given, which prevents the +existence of God, or which destroys his existence, we must +certainly conclude that he necessarily does exist. If such a +reason or cause should be given, it must either be drawn from the +very nature of God, or be external to him-that is, drawn from +another substance of another nature. For if it were of the same +nature, God, by that very fact, would be admitted to exist. But +substance of another nature could have nothing in common with God +(by Prop. ii.), and therefore would be unable either to cause or +to destroy his existence. + As, then, a reason or cause which would annul the divine +existence cannot be drawn from anything external to the divine +nature, such cause must perforce, if God does not exist, be drawn +from God's own nature, which would involve a contradiction. To +make such an affirmation about a being absolutely infinite and +supremely perfect is absurd ; therefore, neither in the nature of +God, nor externally to his nature, can a cause or reason be +assigned which would annul his existence. Therefore, God +necessarily exists. Q.E.D. + Another proof.-The potentiality of non-existence is a +negation of power, and contrariwise the potentiality of existence +is a power, as is obvious. If, then, that which necessarily +exists is nothing but finite beings, such finite beings are more +powerful than a being absolutely infinite, which is obviously +absurd ; therefore, either nothing exists, or else a being +absolutely infinite necessarily exists also. Now we exist either +in ourselves, or in something else which necessarily exists (see +Axiom. i. and Prop. vii.). Therefore a being absolutely +infinite-in other words, God (Def. vi.)-necessarily exists. +Q.E.D. + Note.-In this last proof, I have purposely shown God's +existence à posteriori, so that the proof might be more easily +followed, not because, from the same premises, God's existence +does not follow à priori. For, as the potentiality of existence +is a power, it follows that, in proportion as reality increases +in the nature of a thing, so also will it increase its strength +for existence. Therefore a being absolutely infinite, such as +God, has from himself an absolutely infinite power of existence, +and hence he does absolutely exist. Perhaps there will be many +who will be unable to see the force of this proof, inasmuch as +they are accustomed only to consider those things which flow from +external causes. Of such things, they see that those which +quickly come to pass-that is, quickly come into existence-quickly +also disappear ; whereas they regard as more difficult of +accomplishment-that is, not so easily brought into +existence-those things which they conceive as more complicated. + However, to do away with this misconception, I need not here +show the measure of truth in the proverb, "What comes quickly, +goes quickly," nor discuss whether, from the point of view of +universal nature, all things are equally easy, or otherwise : I +need only remark that I am not here speaking of things, which +come to pass through causes external to themselves, but only of +substances which (by Prop. vi.) cannot be produced by any +external cause. Things which are produced by external causes, +whether they consist of many parts or few, owe whatsoever +perfection or reality they possess solely to the efficacy of +their external cause ; and therefore their existence arises +solely from the perfection of their external cause, not from +their own. Contrrariwise, whatsoever perfection is possessed by +substance is due to no external cause ; wherefore the existence +of substance must arise solely from its own nature, which is +nothing else but its essence. Thus, the perfection of a thing +does not annul its existence, but, on the contrary, asserts it. +Imperfection, on the other hand, does annul it ; therefore we +cannot be more certain of the existence of anything, than of the +existence of a being absolutely infinite or perfect-that is, of +God. For inasmuch as his essence excludes all imperfection, and +involves absolute perfection, all cause for doubt concerning his +existence is done away, and the utmost certainty on the question +is given. This, I think, will be evident to every moderately +attentive reader. + +PROP. XII. No attribute of substance can be conceived from which +it would follow that substance can be divided. + Proof.-The parts into which substance as thus conceived would +be divided either will retain the nature of substance, or they +will not. If the former, then (by Prop. viii.) each part will +necessarily be infinite, and (by Prop. vi.) self-caused, and (by +Prop. v.) will perforce consist of a different attribute, so +that, in that case, several substances could be formed out of one +substance, which (by Prop. vi.) is absurd. Moreover, the parts +(by Prop. ii.) would have nothing in common with their whole, and +the whole (by Def. iv. and Prop. x.) could both exist and be +conceived without its parts, which everyone will admit to be +absurd. If we adopt the second alternative-namely, that the +parts will not retain the nature of substance-then, if the whole +substance were divided into equal parts, it would lose the nature +of substance, and would cease to exist, which (by Prop. vii.) is +absurd. + +PROP. XIII. Substance absolutely infinite is indivisible. + Proof.-If it could be divided, the parts into which it was +divided would either retain the nature of absolutely infinite +substance, or they would not. If the former, we should have +several substances of the same nature, which (by Prop. v.) is +absurd. If the latter, then (by Prop. vii.) substance absolutely +infinite could cease to exist, which (by Prop. xi.) is also +absurd. + Corollary.-It follows, that no substance, and consequently no +extended substance, in so far as it is substance, is divisible. + Note.-The indivisibility of substance may be more easily +understood as follows. The nature of substance can only be +conceived as infinite, and by a part of substance, nothing else +can be understood than finite substance, which (by Prop. viii) +involves a manifest contradiction. + +PROP. XIV. Besides God no substance can be granted or conceived. + Proof.-As God is a being absolutely infinite, of whom no +attribute that expresses the essence of substance can be denied +(by Def. vi.), and he necessarily exists (by Prop. xi.) ; if any +substance besides God were granted, it would have to be explained +by some attribute of God, and thus two substances with the same +attribute would exist, which (by Prop. v.) is absurd ; therefore, +besides God no substance can be granted, or, consequently, be +conceived. If it could be conceived, it would necessarily have +to be conceived as existent ; but this (by the first part of this +proof) is absurd. Therefore, besides God no substance can be +granted or conceived. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-Clearly, therefore : 1. God is one, that is (by +Def. vi.) only one substance can be granted in the universe, and +that substance is absolutely infinite, as we have already +indicated (in the note to Prop. x.). + Corollary II.-It follows : 2. That extension and thought +are either attributes of God or (by Ax. i.) accidents +(affectiones) of the attributes of God. + +PROP. XV. Whatsoever is, is in God, and without God nothing can +be, or be conceived. + Proof.-Besides God, no substance is granted or can be +conceived (by Prop. xiv.), that is (by Def. iii.) nothing which +is in itself and is conceived through itself. But modes (by Def. +v.) can neither be, nor be conceived without substance ; +wherefore they can only be in the divine nature, and can only +through it be conceived. But substances and modes form the sum +total of existence (by Ax. i.), therefore, without God nothing +can be, or be conceived. Q.E.D. + Note.-Some assert that God, like a man, consists of body and +mind, and is susceptible of passions. How far such persons have +strayed from the truth is sufficiently evident from what has been +said. But these I pass over. For all who have in anywise +reflected on the divine nature deny that God has a body. Of this +they find excellent proof in the fact that we understand by body +a definite quantity, so long, so broad, so deep, bounded by a +certain shape, and it is the height of absurdity to predicate +such a thing of God, a being absolutely infinite. But meanwhile +by other reasons with which they try to prove their point, they +show that they think corporeal or extended substance wholly apart +from the divine nature, and say it was created by God. Wherefrom +the divine nature can have been created, they are wholly ignorant +; thus they clearly show, that they do not know the meaning of +their own words. I myself have proved sufficiently clearly, at +any rate in my own judgment (Coroll. Prop. vi, and note 2, Prop. +viii.), that no substance can be produced or created by anything +other than itself. Further, I showed (in Prop. xiv.), that +besides God no substance can be granted or conceived. Hence we +drew the conclusion that extended substance is one of the +infinite attributes of God. However, in order to explain more +fully, I will refute the arguments of my adversaries, which all +start from the following points :- + Extended substance, in so far as it is substance, consists, +as they think, in parts, wherefore they deny that it can be +infinite, or consequently, that it can appertain to God. This +they illustrate with many examples, of which I will take one or +two. If extended substance, they say, is infinite, let it be +conceived to be divided into two parts ; each part will then be +either finite or infinite. If the former, then infinite +substance is composed of two finite parts, which is absurd. If +the latter, then one infinite will be twice as large as another +infinite, which is also absurd. + Further, if an infinite line be measured out in foot lengths, +it will consist of an infinite number of such parts ; it would +equally consist of an infinite number of parts, if each part +measured only an inch : therefore, one infinity would be twelve +times as great as the other. + Lastly, if from a single point there be conceived to be drawn +two diverging lines which at first are at a definite distance +apart, but are produced to infinity, it is certain that the +distance between the two lines will be continually increased, +until at length it changes from definite to indefinable. As +these absurdities follow, it is said, from considering quantity +as infinite, the conclusion is drawn, that extended substance +must necessarily be finite, and, consequently, cannot appertain +to the nature of God. + The second argument is also drawn from God's supreme +perfection. God, it is said, inasmuch as he is a supremely +perfect being, cannot be passive ; but extended substance, +insofar as it is divisible, is passive. It follows, therefore, +that extended substance does not appertain to the essence of God. + Such are the arguments I find on the subject in writers, who +by them try to prove that extended substance is unworthy of the +divine nature, and cannot possibly appertain thereto. However, I +think an attentive reader will see that I have already answered +their propositions ; for all their arguments are founded on the +hypothesis that extended substance is composed of parts, and such +a hypothesis I have shown (Prop. xii., and Coroll. Prop. xiii.) +to be absurd. Moreover, anyone who reflects will see that all +these absurdities (if absurdities they be, which I am not now +discussing), from which it is sought to extract the conclusion +that extended substance is finite, do not at all follow from the +notion of an infinite quantity, but merely from the notion that +an infinite quantity is measurable, and composed of finite parts +: therefore, the only fair conclusion to be drawn is that +infinite quantity is not measurable, and cannot be composed of +finite parts. This is exactly what we have already proved (in +Prop. xii.). Wherefore the weapon which they aimed at us has in +reality recoiled upon themselves. If, from this absurdity of +theirs, they persist in drawing the conclusion that extended +substance must be finite, they will in good sooth be acting like +a man who asserts that circles have the properties of squares, +and, finding himself thereby landed in absurdities, proceeds to +deny that circles have any center, from which all lines drawn to +the circumference are equal. For, taking extended substance, +which can only be conceived as infinite, one, and indivisible +(Props. viii., v., xii.) they assert, in order to prove that it +is finite, that it is composed of finite parts, and that it can +be multiplied and divided. + So, also, others, after asserting that a line is composed of +points, can produce many arguments to prove that a line cannot be +infinitely divided. Assuredly it is not less absurd to assert +that extended substance is made up of bodies or parts, than it +would be to assert that a solid is made up of surfaces, a surface +of lines, and a line of points. This must be admitted by all who +know clear reason to be infallible, and most of all by those who +deny the possibility of a vacuum. For if extended substance +could be so divided that its parts were really separate, why +should not one part admit of being destroyed, the others +remaining joined together as before? And why should all be so +fitted into one another as to leave no vacuum? Surely in the +case of things, which are really distinct one from the other, one +can exist without the other, and can remain in its original +condition. As, then, there does not exist a vacuum in nature +(of which anon), but all parts are bound to come together to +prevent it, it follows from this that the parts cannot really be +distinguished, and that extended substance in so far as it is +substance cannot be divided. + If anyone asks me the further question, Why are we naturally +so prone to divide quantity? I answer, that quantity is +conceived by us in two ways ; in the abstract and superficially, +as we imagine it ; or as substance, as we conceive it solely by +the intellect. If, then, we regard quantity as it is represented +in our imagination, which we often and more easily do, we shall +find that it is finite, divisible, and compounded of parts ; but +if we regard it as it is represented in our intellect, and +conceive it as substance, which it is very difficult to do, we +shall then, as I have sufficiently proved, find that it is +infinite, one, and indivisible. This will be plain enough to all +who make a distinction between the intellect and the imagination, +especially if it be remembered, that matter is everywhere the +same, that its parts are not distinguishable, except in so far as +we conceive matter as diversely modified, whence its parts are +distinguished, not really, but modally. For instance, water, in +so far as it is water, we conceive to be divided, and its parts +to be separated one from the other ; but not in so far as it is +extended substance ; from this point of view it is neither +separated nor divisible. Further, water, in so far as it is +water, is produced and corrupted ; but, in so far as it is +substance, it is neither produced nor corrupted. + I think I have now answered the second argument ; it is, in +fact, founded on the same assumption as the first-namely, that +matter, in so far as it is substance, is divisible, and composed +of parts. Even if it were so, I do not know why it should be +considered unworthy of the divine nature, inasmuch as besides God +(by Prop. xiv.) no substance can be granted, wherefrom it could +receive its modifications. All things, I repeat, are in God, and +all things which come to pass, come to pass solely through the +laws of the infinite nature of God, and follow (as I will shortly +show) from the necessity of his essence. Wherefore it can in +nowise be said, that God is passive in respect to anything other +than himself, or that extended substance is unworthy of the +Divine nature, even if it be supposed divisible, so long as it is +granted to be infinite and eternal. But enough of this for the +present. + +PROP. XVI. From the necessity of the divine nature must follow +an infinite number of things in infinite ways-that is, all things +which can fall within the sphere of infinite intellect. + Proof.-This proposition will be clear to everyone, who +remembers that from the given definition of any thing the +intellect infers several properties, which really necessarily +follow therefrom (that is, from the actual essence of the thing +defined) ; and it infers more properties in proportion as the +definition of the thing expresses more reality, that is, in +proportion as the essence of the thing defined involves more +reality. Now, as the divine nature has absolutely infinite +attributes (by Def. vi.), of which each expresses infinite +essence after its kind, it follows that from the necessity of its +nature an infinite number of things (that is, everything which +can fall within the sphere of an infinite intellect) must +necessarily follow. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-Hence it follows, that God is the efficient +cause of all that can fall within the sphere of an infinite +intellect. + Corollary II.-It also follows that God is a cause in himself, +and not through an accident of his nature. + Corollary III.-It follows, thirdly, that God is the +absolutely first cause. + +PROP. XVII. God acts solely by the laws of his own nature, and +is not constrained by anyone. + Proof.-We have just shown (in Prop. xvi.), that solely from +the necessity of the divine nature, or, what is the same thing, +solely from the laws of his nature, an infinite number of things +absolutely follow in an infinite number of ways ; and we proved +(in Prop. xv.), that without God nothing can be nor be conceived +; but that all things are in God. Wherefore nothing can exist +outside himself, whereby he can be conditioned or constrained to +act. Wherefore God acts solely by the laws of his own nature, +and is not constrained by anyone. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-It follows : 1. That there can be no cause +which, either extrinsically or intrinsically, besides the +perfection of his own nature, moves God to act. + Corollary II.-It follows : 2. That God is the sole free +cause. For God alone exists by the sole necessity of his nature +(by Prop. xi. and Prop. xiv., Coroll. i.), and acts by the sole +necessity of his own nature, wherefore God is (by Def. vii.) the +sole free cause. Q.E.D. + Note.-Others think that God is a free cause, because he can, +as they think, bring it about, that those things which we have +said follow from his nature-that is, which are in his power, +should not come to pass, or should not be produced by him. But +this is the same as if they said, that God could bring it about, +that it should follow from the nature of a triangle that its +three interior angles should not be equal to two right angles ; +or that from a given cause no effect should follow, which is +absurd. + Moreover, I will show below, without the aid of this +proposition, that neither intellect nor will appertain to God's +nature. I know that there are many who think that they can show, +that supreme intellect and free will do appertain to God's nature +; for they say they know of nothing more perfect, which they can +attribute to God, than that which is the highest perfection in +ourselves. Further, although they conceive God as actually +supremely intelligent, they yet do not believe that he can bring +into existence everything which he actually understands, for they +think that they would thus destroy God's power. If, they +contend, God had created everything which is in his intellect, he +would not be able to create anything more, and this, they think, +would clash with God's omnipotence ; therefore, they prefer to +asset that God is indifferent to all things, and that he creates +nothing except that which he has decided, by some absolute +exercise of will, to create. However, I think I have shown +sufficiently clearly (by Prop. xvi.), that from God's supreme +power, or infinite nature, an infinite number of things-that is, +all things have necessarily flowed forth in an infinite number of +ways, or always flow from the same necessity ; in the same way as +from the nature of a triangle it follows from eternity and for +eternity, that its three interior angles are equal to two right +angles. Wherefore the omnipotence of God has been displayed from +all eternity, and will for all eternity remain in the same state +of activity. This manner of treating the question attributes to +God an omnipotence, in my opinion, far more perfect. For, +otherwise, we are compelled to confess that God understands an +infinite number of creatable things, which he will never be able +to create, for, if he created all that he understands, he would, +according to this showing, exhaust his omnipotence, and render +himself imperfect. Wherefore, in order to establish that God is +perfect, we should be reduced to establishing at the same time, +that he cannot bring to pass everything over which his power +extends ; this seems to be a hypothesis most absurd, and most +repugnant to God's omnipotence. + Further (to say a word here concerning the intellect and the +will which we attribute to God), if intellect and will appertain +to the eternal essence of God, we must take these words in some +significance quite different from those they usually bear. For +intellect and will, which should constitute the essence of God, +would perforce be as far apart as the poles from the human +intellect and will, in fact, would have nothing in common with +them but the name ; there would be about as much correspondence +between the two as there is between the Dog, the heavenly +constellation, and a dog, an animal that barks. This I will +prove as follows. If intellect belongs to the divine nature, it +cannot be in nature, as ours is generally thought to be, +posterior to, or simultaneous with the things understood, +inasmuch as God is prior to all things by reason of his causality +(Prop. xvi., Coroll. i.). On the contrary, the truth and formal +essence of things is as it is, because it exists by +representation as such in the intellect of God. Wherefore the +intellect of God, in so far as it is conceived to constitute +God's essence, is, in reality, the cause of things, both of their +essence and of their existence. This seems to have been +recognized by those who have asserted, that God's intellect, +God's will, and God's power, are one and the same. As, +therefore, God's intellect is the sole cause of things, namely, +both of their essence and existence, it must necessarily differ +from them in respect to its essence, and in respect to its +existence. For a cause differs from a thing it causes, precisely +in the quality which the latter gains from the former. + For example, a man is the cause of another man's existence, +but not of his essence (for the latter is an eternal truth), and, +therefore, the two men may be entirely similar in essence, but +must be different in existence ; and hence if the existence of +one of them cease, the existence of the other will not +necessarily cease also ; but if the essence of one could be +destroyed, and be made false, the essence of the other would be +destroyed also. Wherefore, a thing which is the cause both of +the essence and of the existence of a given effect, must differ +from such effect both in respect to its essence, and also in +respect to its existence. Now the intellect of God is the cause +both of the essence and the existence of our intellect ; +therefore, the intellect of God in so far as it is conceived to +constitute the divine essence, differs from our intellect both in +respect to essence and in respect to existence, nor can it in +anywise agree therewith save in name, as we said before. The +reasoning would be identical in the case of the will, as anyone +can easily see. + +PROP. XVIII. God is the indwelling and not the transient cause +of all things. + Proof.-All things which are, are in God, and must be +conceived through God (by Prop. xv.), therefore (by Prop. xvi., +Coroll. i.) God is the cause of those things which are in him. +This is our first point. Further, besides God there can be no +substance (by Prop. xiv.), that is nothing in itself external to +God. This is our second point. God, therefore, is the +indwelling and not the transient cause of all things. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIX. God, and all the attributes of God, are eternal. + Proof.-God (by Def. vi.) is substance, which (by Prop. xi.) +necessarily exists, that is (by Prop. vii.) existence appertains +to its nature, or (what is the same thing) follows from its +definition ; therefore, God is eternal (by Def. viii.). Further, +by the attributes of God we must understand that which (by Def. +iv.) expresses the essence of the divine substance-in other +words, that which appertains to substance : that, I say, should +be involved in the attributes of substance. Now eternity +appertains to the nature of substance (as I have already shown in +Prop. vii.) ; therefore, eternity must appertain to each of the +attributes, and thus all are eternal. Q.E.D. + Note.-This proposition is also evident from the manner in +which (in Prop. xi.) I demonstrated the existence of God ; it is +evident, I repeat, from that proof, that the existence of God, +like his essence, is an eternal truth. Further (in Prop. xix. of +my "Principles of the Cartesian Philosophy"), I have proved the +eternity of God, in another manner, which I need not here repeat. + +PROP. XX. The existence of God and his essence are one and the +same. + Proof.-God (by the last Prop.) and all his attributes are +eternal, that is (by Def. viii.) each of his attributes expresses +existence. Therefore the same +attributes of God which explain his eternal essence, explain at +the same time his eternal existence-in other words, that which +constitutes God's essence constitutes at the same time his +existence. Wherefore God's existence and God's essence are one +and the same. Q.E.D. + Coroll. I.-Hence it follows that God's existence, like his +essence, is an eternal truth. + Coroll. II-Secondly, it follows that God, and all the +attributes of God, are unchangeable. For if they could be +changed in respect to existence, they must also be able to be +changed in respect to essence-that is, obviously, be changed from +true to false, which is absurd. + +PROP. XXI. All things which follow from the absolute nature of +any attribute of God must always exist and be infinite, or, in +other words, are eternal and infinite through the said attribute. + Proof.-Conceive, if it be possible (supposing the proposition +to be denied), that something in some attribute of God can follow +from the absolute nature of the said attribute, and that at the +same time it is finite, and has a conditioned existence or +duration ; for instance, the idea of God expressed in the +attribute thought. Now thought, in so far as it is supposed to +be an attribute of God, is necessarily (by Prop. xi.) in its +nature infinite. But, in so far as it possesses the idea of God, +it is supposed finite. It cannot, however, be conceived as +finite, unless it be limited by thought (by Def. ii.) ; but it is +not limited by thought itself, in so far as it has constituted +the idea of God (for so far it is supposed to be finite) ; +therefore, it is limited by thought, in so far as it has not +constituted the idea of God, which nevertheless (by Prop. xi.) +must necessarily exist. + We have now granted, therefore, thought not constituting the +idea of God, and, accordingly, the idea of God does not naturally +follow from its nature in so far as it is absolute thought (for +it is conceived as constituting, and also as not constituting, +the idea of God), which is against our hypothesis. Wherefore, if +the idea of God expressed in the attribute thought, or, indeed, +anything else in any attribute of God (for we may take any +example, as the proof is of universal application) follows from +the necessity of the absolute nature of the said attribute, the +said thing must necessarily be infinite, which was our first +point. + Furthermore, a thing which thus follows from the necessity of +the nature of any attribute cannot have a limited duration. For +if it can, suppose a thing, which follows from the necessity of +the nature of some attribute, to exist in some attribute of God, +for instance, the idea of God expressed in the attribute thought, +and let it be supposed at some time not to have existed, or to be +about not to exist. + Now thought being an attribute of God, must necessarily exist +unchanged (by Prop. xi., and Prop. xx., Coroll. ii.) ; and beyond +the limits of the duration of the idea of God (supposing the +latter at some time not to have existed, or not to be going to +exist) thought would perforce have existed without the idea of +God, which is contrary to our hypothesis, for we supposed that, +thought being given, the idea of God necessarily flowed +therefrom. Therefore the idea of God expressed in thought, or +anything which necessarily follows from the absolute nature of +some attribute of God, cannot have a limited duration, but +through the said attribute is eternal, which is our second point. +Bear in mind that the same proposition may be affirmed of +anything, which in any attribute necessarily follows from God's +absolute nature. + +PROP. XXII. Whatsoever follows from any attribute of God, in so +far as it is modified by a modification, which exists necessarily +and as infinite, through the said attribute, must also exist +necessarily and as infinite. + Proof.-The proof of this proposition is similar to that of +the preceding one. + +PROP. XXIII. Every mode, which exists both necessarily and as +infinite, must necessarily follow either from the absolute nature +of some attribute of God, or from an attribute modified by a +modification which exists necessarily, and as infinite. + Proof.-A mode exists in something else, through which it must +be conceived (Def. v.), that is (Prop. xv.), it exists solely in +God, and solely through God can be conceived. If therefore a mode +is conceived as necessarily existing and infinite, it must +necessarily be inferred or perceived through some attribute of +God, in so far as such attribute is conceived as expressing the +infinity and necessity of existence, in other words (Def. viii.) +eternity ; that is, in so far as it is considered absolutely. A +mode, therefore, which necessarily exists as infinite, must +follow from the absolute nature of some attribute of God, either +immediately (Prop. xxi.) or through the means of some +modification, which follows from the absolute nature of the said +attribute ; that is (by Prop. xxii.), which exists necessarily +and as infinite. + +PROP. XXIV. The essence of things produced by God does not +involve existence. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from Def. i. For that of +which the nature (considered in itself) involves existence is +self-caused, and exists by the sole necessity of its own nature. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that God is not only the cause of +things coming into existence, but also of their continuing in +existence, that is, in scholastic phraseology, God is cause of +the being of things (essendi rerum). For whether things exist, +or do not exist, whenever we contemplate their essence, we see +that it involves neither existence nor duration ; consequently, +it cannot be the cause of either the one or the other. God must +be the sole cause, inasmuch as to him alone does existence +appertain. (Prop. xiv. Coroll. i.) Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXV. God is the efficient cause not only of the existence +of things, but also of their essence. + Proof.-If this be denied, then God is not the cause of the +essence of things ; and therefore the essence of things can (by +Ax. iv.) be conceived without God. This (by Prop. xv.) is +absurd. Therefore, God is the cause of the essence of things. +Q.E.D. + Note.-This proposition follows more clearly from Prop. xvi. +For it is evident thereby that, given the divine nature, the +essence of things must be inferred from it, no less than their +existence-in a word, God must be called the cause of all things, +in the same sense as he is called the cause of himself. This +will be made still clearer by the following corollary. + Corollary.-Individual things are nothing but modifications of +the attributes of God, or modes by which the attributes of God +are expressed in a fixed and definite manner. The proof appears +from Prop. xv. and Def. v. + +PROP. XXVI. A thing which is conditioned to act in a particular +manner, has necessarily been thus conditioned by God ; and that +which has not been conditioned by God cannot condition itself to +act. + Proof.-That by which things are said to be conditioned to act +in a particular manner is necessarily something positive (this is +obvious) ; therefore both of its essence and of its existence God +by the necessity of his nature is the efficient cause (Props. +xxv. and xvi.) ; this is our first point. Our second point is +plainly to be inferred therefrom. For if a thing, which has not +been conditioned by God, could condition itself, the first part +of our proof would be false, and this, as we have shown is +absurd. + +PROP. XXVII. A thing, which has been conditioned by God to act +in a particular way, cannot render itself unconditioned. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from the third axiom. + +PROP. XXVIII. Every individual thing, or everything which is +finite and has a conditioned existence, cannot exist or be +conditioned to act, unless it be conditioned for existence and +action by a cause other than itself, which also is finite, and +has a conditioned existence ; and likewise this cause cannot in +its turn exist, or be conditioned to act, unless it be +conditioned for existence and action by another cause, which also +is finite, and has a conditioned existence, and so on to +infinity. + Proof.-Whatsoever is conditioned to exist and act, has been +thus conditioned by God (by Prop. xxvi. and Prop. xxiv., +Coroll.). + But that which is finite, and has a conditioned existence, +cannot be produced by the absolute nature of any attribute of God +; for whatsoever follows from the absolute nature of any +attribute of God is infinite and eternal (by Prop. xxi.). It +must, therefore, follow from some attribute of God, in so far as +the said attribute is considered as in some way modified ; for +substance and modes make up the sum total of existence (by Ax. i. +and Def. iii., v.), while modes are merely modifications of the +attributes of God. But from God, or from any of his attributes, +in so far as the latter is modified by a modification infinite +and eternal, a conditioned thing cannot follow. Wherefore it +must follow from, or be conditioned for, existence and action by +God or one of his attributes, in so far as the latter are +modified by some modification which is finite, and has a +conditioned existence. This is our first point. Again, this +cause or this modification (for the reason by which we +established the first part of this proof) must in its turn be +conditioned by another cause, which also is finite, and has a +conditioned existence, and, again, this last by another (for the +same reason) ; and so on (for the same reason) to infinity. +Q.E.D. + Note.-As certain things must be produced immediately by God, +namely those things which necessarily follow from his absolute +nature, through the means of these primary attributes, which, +nevertheless, can neither exist nor be conceived without God, it +follows :-1. That God is absolutely the proximate cause of those +things immediately produced by him. I say absolutely, not after +his kind, as is usually stated. For the effects of God cannot +either exist or be conceived without a cause (Prop. xv. and Prop. +xxiv. Coroll.). 2. That God cannot properly be styled the remote +cause of individual things, except for the sake of distinguishing +these from what he immediately produces, or rather from what +follows from his absolute nature. For, by a remote cause, we +understand a cause which is in no way conjoined to the effect. +But all things which are, are in God, and so depend on God, that +without him they can neither be nor be conceived. + +PROP. XXIX. Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all +things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular +manner by the necessity of the divine nature. + Proof.-Whatsoever is, is in God (Prop. xv.). But God cannot +be called a thing contingent. For (by Prop. xi.) he exists +necessarily, and not contingently. Further, the modes of the +divine nature follow therefrom necessarily, and not contingently +(Prop. xvi.) ; and they thus follow, whether we consider the +divine nature absolutely, or whether we consider it as in any way +conditioned to act (Prop. xxvii.). Further, God is not only the +cause of these modes, in so far as they simply exist (by Prop. +xxiv, Coroll.), but also in so far as they are considered as +conditioned for operating in a particular manner (Prop. xxvi.). +If they be not conditioned by God (Prop. xxvi.), it is +impossible, and not contingent, that they should condition +themselves ; contrariwise, if they be conditioned by God, it is +impossible, and not contingent, that they should render +themselves unconditioned. Wherefore all things are conditioned by +the necessity of the divine nature, not only to exist, but also +to exist and operate in a particular manner, and there is nothing +that is contingent. Q.E.D. + Note.-Before going any further, I wish here to explain, what +we should understand by nature viewed as active (natura +naturans), and nature viewed as passive (natura naturata). I say +to explain, or rather call attention to it, for I think that, +from what has been said, it is sufficiently clear, that by nature +viewed as active we should understand that which is in itself, +and is conceived through itself, or those attributes of +substance, which express eternal and infinite essence, in other +words (Prop. xiv., Coroll. i., and Prop. xvii., Coroll. ii) God, +in so far as he is considered as a free cause. + By nature viewed as passive I understand all that which +follows from the necessity of the nature of God, or of any of the +attributes of God, that is, all the modes of the attributes of +God, in so far as they are considered as things which are in God, +and which without God cannot exist or be conceived. + +PROP. XXX. Intellect, in function (actu) finite, or in function +infinite, must comprehend the attributes of God and the +modifications of God, and nothing else. + Proof.-A true idea must agree with its object (Ax. vi.) ; in +other words (obviously), that which is contained in the intellect +in representation must necessarily be granted in nature. But in +nature (by Prop. xiv., Coroll. i.) there is no substance save +God, nor any modifications save those (Prop. xv.) which are in +God, and cannot without God either be or be conceived. Therefore +the intellect, in function finite, or in function infinite, must +comprehend the attributes of God and the modifications of God, +and nothing else. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXI. The intellect in function, whether finite or +infinite, as will, desire, love, &c., should be referred to +passive nature and not to active nature. + Proof.-By the intellect we do not (obviously) mean absolute +thought, but only a certain mode of thinking, differing from +other modes, such as love, desire, &c., and therefore (Def. v.) +requiring to be conceived through absolute thought. It must (by +Prop. xv. and Def. vi.), through some attribute of God which +expresses the eternal and infinite essence of thought, be so +conceived, that without such attribute it could neither be nor be +conceived. It must therefore be referred to nature passive +rather than to nature active, as must also the other modes of +thinking. Q.E.D. + Note.-I do not here, by speaking of intellect in function, +admit that there is such a thing as intellect in potentiality : +but, wishing to avoid all confusion, I desire to speak only of +what is most clearly perceived by us, namely, of the very act of +understanding, than which nothing is more clearly perceived. For +we cannot perceive anything without adding to our knowledge of +the act of understanding. + +PROP. XXXII. Will cannot be called a free cause, but only a +necessary cause. + Proof.-Will is only a particular mode of thinking, like +intellect ; therefore (by Prop. xxviii.) no volition can exist, +nor be conditioned to act, unless it be conditioned by some cause +other than itself, which cause is conditioned by a third cause, +and so on to infinity. But if will be supposed infinite, it must +also be conditioned to exist and act by God, not by virtue of his +being substance absolutely infinite, but by virtue of his +possessing an attribute which expresses the infinite and eternal +essence of thought (by Prop. xxiii.). Thus, however it be +conceived, whether as finite or infinite, it requires a cause by +which it should be conditioned to exist and act. Thus (Def. +vii.) it cannot be called a free cause, but only a necessary or +constrained cause. Q.E.D. + Coroll. I.-Hence it follows, first, that God does not act +according to freedom of the will. + Coroll. II.-It follows, secondly, that will and intellect +stand in the same relation to the nature of God as do motion, and +rest, and absolutely all natural phenomena, which must be +conditioned by God (Prop. xxix.) to exist and act in a particular +manner. For will, like the rest, stands in need of a cause, by +which it is conditioned to exist and act in a particular manner. +And although, when will or intellect be granted, an infinite +number of results may follow, yet God cannot on that account be +said to act from freedom of the will, any more than the infinite +number of results from motion and rest would justify us in saying +that motion and rest act by free will. Wherefore will no more +appertains to God than does anything else in nature, but stands +in the same relation to him as motion, rest, and the like, which +we have shown to follow from the necessity of the divine nature, +and to be conditioned by it to exist and act in a particular +manner. + +PROP. XXXIII. Things could not have been brought into being by +God in any manner or in any order different from that which has +in fact obtained. + Proof-All things necessarily follow from the nature of God +(Prop. xvi.), and by the nature of God are conditioned to exist +and act in a particular way (Prop. xxix.). If things, therefore, +could have been of a different nature, or have been conditioned +to act in a different way, so that the order of nature would have +been different, God's nature would also have been able to be +different from what it now is ; and therefore (by Prop. xi.) that +different nature also would have perforce existed, and +consequently there would have been able to be two or more Gods. +This (by Prop. xiv., Coroll. i.) is absurd. Therefore things +could not have been brought into being by God in any other +manner, &c. Q.E.D. + Note I.-As I have thus shown, more clearly than the sun at +noonday, that there is nothing to justify us in calling things +contingent, I wish to explain briefly what meaning we shall +attach to the word contingent ; but I will first explain the +words necessary and impossible. + A thing is called necessary either in respect to its essence +or in respect to its cause ; for the existence of a thing +necessarily follows, either from its essence and definition, or +from a given efficient cause. For similar reasons a thing is +said to be impossible ; namely, inasmuch as its essence or +definition involves a contradiction, or because no external cause +is granted, which is conditioned to produce such an effect ; but +a thing can in no respect be called contingent, save in relation +to the imperfection of our knowledge. + A thing of which we do not know whether the essence does or +does not involve a contradiction, or of which, knowing that it +does not involve a contradiction, we are still in doubt +concerning the existence, because the order of causes escapes +us,-such a thing, I say, cannot appear to us either necessary or +impossible. Wherefore we call it contingent or possible. + Note II.-It clearly follows from what we have said, that +things have been brought into being by God in the highest +perfection, inasmuch as they have necessarily followed from a +most perfect nature. Nor does this prove any imperfection in +God, for it has compelled us to affirm his perfection. From its +contrary proposition, we should clearly gather (as I have just +shown), that God is not supremely perfect, for if things had been +brought into being in any other way, we should have to assign to +God a nature different from that, which we are bound to attribute +to him from the consideration of an absolutely perfect being. + I do not doubt, that many will scout this idea as absurd, and +will refuse to give their minds up to contemplating it, simply +because they are accustomed to assign to God a freedom very +different from that which we (Def. vii.) have deduced. They +assign to him, in short, absolute free will. However, I am also +convinced that if such persons reflect on the matter, and duly +weigh in their minds our series of propositions, they will reject +such freedom as they now attribute to God, not only as nugatory, +but also as a great impediment to organized knowledge. There is +no need for me to repeat what I have said in the note to Prop. +xvii. But, for the sake of my opponents, I will show further, +that although it be granted that will pertains to the essence of +God, it nevertheless follows from his perfection, that things +could not have been by him created other than they are, or in a +different order ; this is easily proved, if we reflect on what +our opponents themselves concede, namely, that it depends solely +on the decree and will of God, that each thing is what it is. If +it were otherwise, God would not be the cause of all things. +Further, that all the decrees of God have been ratified from all +eternity by God himself. If it were otherwise, God would be +convicted of imperfection or change. But in eternity there is no +such thing as when, before, or after ; hence it follows solely +from the perfection of God, that God never can decree, or never +could have decreed anything but what is ; that God did not exist +before his decrees, and would not exist without them. But, it is +said, supposing that God had made a different universe, or had +ordained other decrees from all eternity concerning nature and +her order, we could not therefore conclude any imperfection in +God. But persons who say this must admit that God can change his +decrees. For if God had ordained any decrees concerning nature +and her order, different from those which he has ordained-in +other words, if he had willed and conceived something different +concerning nature-he would perforce have had a different +intellect from that which he has, and also a different will. But +if it were allowable to assign to God a different intellect and a +different will, without any change in his essence or his +perfection, what would there be to prevent him changing the +decrees which he has made concerning created things, and +nevertheless remaining perfect? For his intellect and will +concerning things created and their order are the same, in +respect to his essence and perfection, however they be conceived. + Further, all the philosophers whom I have read admit that +God's intellect is entirely actual, and not at all potential ; as +they also admit that God's intellect, and God's will, and God's +essence are identical, it follows that, if God had had a +different actual intellect and a different will, his essence +would also have been different ; and thus, as I concluded at +first, if things had been brought into being by God in a +different way from that which has obtained, God's intellect and +will, that is (as is admitted) his essence would perforce have +been different, which is absurd. + As these things could not have been brought into being by God +in any but the actual way and order which has obtained ; and as +the truth of this proposition follows from the supreme perfection +of God ; we can have no sound reason for persuading ourselves to +believe that God did not wish to create all the things which were +in his intellect, and to create them in the same perfection as he +had understood them. + But, it will be said, there is in things no perfection nor +imperfection ; that which is in them, and which causes them to be +called perfect or imperfect, good or bad, depends solely on the +will of God. If God had so willed, he might have brought it +about that what is now perfection should be extreme imperfection, +and vice versâ. What is such an assertion, but an open +declaration that God, who necessarily understands that which he +wishes, might bring it about by his will, that he should +understand things differently from the way in which he does +understand them? This (as we have just shown) is the height of +absurdity. Wherefore, I may turn the argument against its +employers, as follows :-All things depend on the power of God. +In order that things should be different from what they are, +God's will would necessarily have to be different. But God's +will cannot be different (as we have just most clearly +demonstrated) from God's perfection. Therefore neither can +things be different. I confess, that the theory which subjects +all things to the will of an indifferent deity, and asserts that +they are all dependent on his fiat, is less far from the truth +than the theory of those, who maintain that God acts in all +things with a view of promoting what is good. For these latter +persons seem to set up something beyond God, which does not +depend on God, but which God in acting looks to as an exemplar, +or which he aims at as a definite goal. This is only another +name for subjecting God to the dominion of destiny, an utter +absurdity in respect to God, whom we have shown to be the first +and only free cause of the essence of all things and also of +their existence. I need, therefore, spend no time in refuting +such wild theories. + +PROP. XXXIV. God's power is identical with his essence. + Proof.-From the sole necessity of the essence of God it +follows that God is the cause of himself (Prop. xi.) and of all +things (Prop. xvi. and Coroll.). Wherefore the power of God, by +which he and all things are and act, is identical with his +essence. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXV. Whatsoever we conceive to be in the power of God, +necessarily exists. + Proof.-Whatsoever is in God's power, must (by the last Prop.) +be comprehended in his essence in such a manner, that it +necessarily follows therefrom, and therefore necessarily exists. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXVI. There is no cause from whose nature some effect +does not follow. + Proof.-Whatsoever exists expresses God's nature or essence in +a given conditioned manner (by Prop. xxv., Coroll.) ; that is, +(by Prop. xxxiv.), whatsoever exists, expresses in a given +conditioned manner God's power, which is the cause of all things, +therefore an effect must (by Prop. xvi.) necessarily follow. +Q.E.D. + + +APPENDIX : + In the foregoing I have explained the nature and properties +of God. I have shown that he necessarily exists, that he is one +: that he is, and acts solely by the necessity of his own nature +; that he is the free cause of all things, and how he is so ; +that all things are in God, and so depend on him, that without +him they could neither exist nor be conceived ; lastly, that all +things are predetermined by God, not through his free will or +absolute fiat, but from the very nature of God or infinite power. +I have further, where occasion afforded, taken care to remove the +prejudices, which might impede the comprehension of my +demonstrations. Yet there still remain misconceptions not a few, +which might and may prove very grave hindrances to the +understanding of the concatenation of things, as I have explained +it above. I have therefore thought it worth while to bring these +misconceptions before the bar of reason. + All such opinions spring from the notion commonly +entertained, that all things in nature act as men themselves act, +namely, with an end in view. It is accepted as certain, that God +himself directs all things to a definite goal (for it is said +that God made all things for man, and man that he might worship +him). I will, therefore, consider this opinion, asking first, +why it obtains general credence, and why all men are naturally so +prone to adopt it? secondly, I will point out its falsity ; and, +lastly, I will show how it has given rise to prejudices about +good and bad, right and wrong, praise and blame, order and +confusion, beauty and ugliness, and the like. However, this is +not the place to deduce these misconceptions from the nature of +the human mind : it will be sufficient here, if I assume as a +starting point, what ought to be universally admitted, namely, +that all men are born ignorant of the causes of things, that all +have the desire to seek for what is useful to them, and that they +are conscious of such desire. Herefrom it follows, first, that +men think themselves free inasmuch as they are conscious of their +volitions and desires, and never even dream, in their ignorance, +of the causes which have disposed them so to wish and desire. +Secondly, that men do all things for an end, namely, for that +which is useful to them, and which they seek. Thus it comes to +pass that they only look for a knowledge of the final causes of +events, and when these are learned, they are content, as having +no cause for further doubt. If they cannot learn such causes +from external sources, they are compelled to turn to considering +themselves, and reflecting what end would have induced them +personally to bring about the given event, and thus they +necessarily judge other natures by their own. Further, as they +find in themselves and outside themselves many means which assist +them not a little in the search for what is useful, for instance, +eyes for seeing, teeth for chewing, herbs and animals for +yielding food, the sun for giving light, the sea for breeding +fish, &c., they come to look on the whole of nature as a means +for obtaining such conveniences. Now as they are aware, that +they found these conveniences and did not make them, they think +they have cause for believing, that some other being has made +them for their use. As they look upon things as means, they +cannot believe them to be self-created ; but, judging from the +means which they are accustomed to prepare for themselves, they +are bound to believe in some ruler or rulers of the universe +endowed with human freedom, who have arranged and adapted +everything for human use. They are bound to estimate the nature +of such rulers (having no information on the subject) in +accordance with their own nature, and therefore they assert that +the gods ordained everything for the use of man, in order to bind +man to themselves and obtain from him the highest honor. Hence +also it follows, that everyone thought out for himself, according +to his abilities, a different way of worshipping God, so that God +might love him more than his fellows, and direct the whole course +of nature for the satisfaction of his blind cupidity and +insatiable avarice. Thus the prejudice developed into +superstition, and took deep root in the human mind ; and for this +reason everyone strove most zealously to understand and explain +the final causes of things ; but in their endeavor to show that +nature does nothing in vain, i.e. nothing which is useless to +man, they only seem to have demonstrated that nature, the gods, +and men are all mad together. Consider, I pray you, the result : +among the many helps of nature they were bound to find some +hindrances, such as storms, earthquakes, diseases, &c. : so they +declared that such things happen, because the gods are angry at +some wrong done to them by men, or at some fault committed in +their worship. Experience day by day protested and showed by +infinite examples, that good and evil fortunes fall to the lot of +pious and impious alike ; still they would not abandon their +inveterate prejudice, for it was more easy for them to class such +contradictions among other unknown things of whose use they were +ignorant, and thus to retain their actual and innate condition of +ignorance, than to destroy the whole fabric of their reasoning +and start afresh. They therefore laid down as an axiom, that +God's judgments far transcend human understanding. Such a +doctrine might well have sufficed to conceal the truth from the +human race for all eternity, if mathematics had not furnished +another standard of verity in considering solely the essence and +properties of figures without regard to their final causes. +There are other reasons (which I need not mention here) besides +mathematics, which might have caused men's minds to be directed +to these general prejudices, and have led them to the knowledge +of the truth. + I have now sufficiently explained my first point. There is +no need to show at length, that nature has no particular goal in +view, and that final causes are mere human figments. This, I +think, is already evident enough, both from the causes and +foundations on which I have shown such prejudice to be based, and +also from Prop. xvi., and the Corollary of Prop. xxxii., and, in +fact, all those propositions in which I have shown, that +everything in nature proceeds from a sort of necessity, and with +the utmost perfection. However, I will add a few remarks, in +order to overthrow this doctrine of a final cause utterly. That +which is really a cause it considers as an effect, and vice versâ +: it makes that which is by nature first to be last, and that +which is highest and most perfect to be most imperfect. Passing +over the questions of cause and priority as self-evident, it is +plain from Props. xxi., xxii., xxiii. that the effect is most +perfect which is produced immediately by God ; the effect which +requires for its production several intermediate causes is, in +that respect, more imperfect. But if those things which were +made immediately by God were made to enable him to attain his +end, then the things which come after, for the sake of which the +first were made, are necessarily the most excellent of all. + Further, this doctrine does away with the perfection of God : +for, if God acts for an object, he necessarily desires something +which he lacks. Certainly, theologians and metaphysicians draw a +distinction between the object of want and the object of +assimilation ; still they confess that God made all things for +the sake of himself, not for the sake of creation. They are +unable to point to anything prior to creation, except God +himself, as an object for which God should act, and are therefore +driven to admit (as they clearly must), that God lacked those +things for whose attainment he created means, and further that he +desired them. + We must not omit to notice that the followers of this +doctrine, anxious to display their talent in assigning final +causes, have imported a new method of argument in proof of their +theory-namely, a reduction, not to the impossible, but to +ignorance ; thus showing that they have no other method of +exhibiting their doctrine. For example, if a stone falls from a +roof on to someone's head, and kills him, they will demonstrate +by their new method, that the stone fell in order to kill the man +; for, if it had not by God's will fallen with that object, how +could so many circumstances (and there are often many concurrent +circumstances) have all happened together by chance? Perhaps you +will answer that the event is due to the facts that the wind was +blowing, and the man was walking that way. "But why," they will +insist, "was the wind blowing, and why was the man at that very +time walking that way?" If you again answer, that the wind had +then sprung up because the sea had begun to be agitated the day +before, the weather being previously calm, and that the man had +been invited by a friend, they will again insist : "But why was +the sea agitated, and why was the man invited at that time?" +So they will pursue their questions from cause to cause, till at +last you take refuge in the will of God-in other words, the +sanctuary of ignorance. So, again, when they survey the frame of +the human body, they are amazed ; and being ignorant of the +causes of so great a work of art, conclude that it has been +fashioned, not mechanically, but by divine and supernatural +skill, and has been so put together that one part shall not hurt +another. + Hence anyone who seeks for the true causes of miracles, and +strives to understand natural phenomena as an intelligent being, +and not to gaze at them like a fool, is set down and denounced as +an impious heretic by those, whom the masses adore as the +interpreters of nature and the gods. Such persons know that, +with the removal of ignorance, the wonder which forms their only +available means for proving and preserving their authority would +vanish also. But I now quit this subject, and pass on to my +third point. + After men persuaded themselves, that everything which is +created is created for their sake, they were bound to consider as +the chief quality in everything that which is most useful to +themselves, and to account those things the best of all which +have the most beneficial effect on mankind. Further, they were +bound to form abstract notions for the explanation of the nature +of things, such as goodness, badness, order, confusion, warmth, +cold, beauty, deformity, and so on ; and from the belief that +they are free agents arose the further notions of praise and +blame, sin and merit. + I will speak of these latter hereafter, when I treat of human +nature ; the former I will briefly explain here. + Everything which conduces to health and the worship of God +they have called good, everything which hinders these objects +they have styled bad ; and inasmuch as those who do not +understand the nature of things do not verify phenomena in any +way, but merely imagine them after a fashion, and mistake their +imagination for understanding, such persons firmly believe that +there is an order in things, being really ignorant both of things +and their own nature. When phenomena are of such a kind, that +the impression they make on our senses requires little effort of +imagination, and can consequently be easily remembered, we say +that they are well-ordered ; if the contrary, that they are +ill-ordered or confused. Further, as things which are easily +imagined are more pleasing to us, men prefer order to +confusion-as though there were any order in nature, except in +relation to our imagination-and say that God has created all +things in order ; thus, without knowing it, attributing +imagination to God, unless, indeed, they would have it that God +foresaw human imagination, and arranged everything, so that it +should be most easily imagined. If this be their theory, they +would not, perhaps, be daunted by the fact that we find an +infinite number of phenomena, far surpassing our imagination, and +very many others which confound its weakness. But enough has +been said on this subject. The other abstract notions are +nothing but modes of imagining, in which the imagination is +differently affected : though they are considered by the ignorant +as the chief attributes of things, inasmuch as they believe that +everything was created for the sake of themselves ; and, +according as they are affected by it, style it good or bad, +healthy or rotten and corrupt. For instance, if the motion which +objects we see communicate to our nerves be conducive to health, +the objects causing it are styled beautiful ; if a contrary +motion be excited, they are styled ugly. + Things which are perceived through our sense of smell are +styled fragrant or fetid ; if through our taste, sweet or bitter, +full-flavored or insipid ; if through our touch, hard or soft, +rough or smooth, &c. + Whatsoever affects our ears is said to give rise to noise, +sound, or harmony. In this last case, there are men lunatic +enough to believe, that even God himself takes pleasure in +harmony ; and philosophers are not lacking who have persuaded +themselves, that the motion of the heavenly bodies gives rise to +harmony-all of which instances sufficiently show that everyone +judges of things according to the state of his brain, or rather +mistakes for things the forms of his imagination. We need no +longer wonder that there have arisen all the controversies we +have witnessed, and finally skepticism : for, although human +bodies in many respects agree, yet in very many others they +differ ; so that what seems good to one seems bad to another ; +what seems well ordered to one seems confused to another ; what +is pleasing to one displeases another, and so on. I need not +further enumerate, because this is not the place to treat the +subject at length, and also because the fact is sufficiently well +known. It is commonly said : "So many men, so many minds ; +everyone is wise in his own way ; brains differ as completely as +palates." All of which proverbs show, that men judge of things +according to their mental disposition, and rather imagine than +understand : for, if they understood phenomena, they would, as +mathematicians attest, be convinced, if not attracted, by what I +have urged. + We have now perceived, that all the explanations commonly +given of nature are mere modes of imagining, and do not indicate +the true nature of anything, but only the constitution of the +imagination ; and, although they have names, as though they were +entities, existing externally to the imagination, I call them +entities imaginary rather than real ; and, therefore, all +arguments against us drawn from such abstractions are easily +rebutted. + Many argue in this way. If all things follow from a +necessity of the absolutely perfect nature of God, why are there +so many imperfections in nature? such, for instance, as things +corrupt to the point of putridity, loathsome deformity, +confusion, evil, sin, &c. But these reasoners are, as I have +said, easily confuted, for the perfection of things is to be +reckoned only from their own nature and power ; things are not +more or less perfect, according as they delight or offend human +senses, or according as they are serviceable or repugnant to +mankind. To those who ask why God did not so create all men, +that they should be governed only by reason, I give no answer but +this : because matter was not lacking to him for the creation of +every degree of perfection from highest to lowest ; or, more +strictly, because the laws of his nature are so vast, as to +suffice for the production of everything conceivable by an +infinite intelligence, as I have shown in Prop. xvi. + Such are the misconceptions I have undertaken to note ; if +there are any more of the same sort, everyone may easily +dissipate them for himself with the aid of a little reflection. + + + + +Part II. +ON THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF THE MIND + + +PREFACE + + I now pass on to explaining the results, which must +necessarily follow from the essence of God, or of the eternal and +infinite being ; not, indeed, all of them (for we proved in Part +i., Prop. xvi., that an infinite number must follow in an +infinite number of ways), but only those which are able to lead +us, as it were by the hand, to the knowledge of the human mind +and its highest blessedness. + + +DEFINITIONS + +DEFINITION I. By body I mean a mode which expresses in a certain +determinate manner the essence of God, in so far as he is +considered as an extended thing. (See Pt. i., Prop. xxv., +Coroll.) + +DEFINITION II. I consider as belonging to the essence of a thing +that, which being given, the thing is necessarily given also, +and, which being removed, the thing is necessarily removed also ; +in other words, that without which the thing, and which itself +without the thing, can neither be nor be conceived. + +DEFINITION III. By idea, I mean the mental conception which is +formed by the mind as a thinking thing. + Explanation.-I say conception rather than perception, because +the word perception seems to imply that the mind is passive in +respect to the object ; whereas conception seems to express an +activity of the mind. + +DEFINITION IV. By an adequate idea, I mean an idea which, in so +far as it is considered in itself, without relation to the +object, has all the properties or intrinsic marks of a true idea. + Explanation.-I say intrinsic, in order to exclude that mark +which is extrinsic, namely, the agreement between the idea and +its object (ideatum). + +DEFINITION V. Duration is the indefinite continuance of +existing. + Explanation.-I say indefinite, because it cannot be +determined through the existence itself of the existing thing, or +by its efficient cause, which necessarily gives the existence of +the thing, but does not take it away. + +DEFINITION VI. Reality and perfection I use as synonymous terms. + +DEFINITION VII. By particular things, I mean things which are +finite and have a conditioned existence ; but if several +individual things concur in one action, so as to be all +simultaneously the effect of one cause, I consider them all, so +far, as one particular thing. + + +AXIOMS + +I. The essence of man does not involve necessary existence, that +is, it may, in the order of nature, come to pass that this or +that man does or does not exist. + +II. Man thinks. + +III. Modes of thinking, such as love, desire, or any other of +the passions, do not take place, unless there be in the same +individual an idea of the thing loved, desired, &c. But the idea +can exist without the presence of any other mode of thinking. + +IV. We perceive that a certain body is affected in many ways. + +V. We feel and perceive no particular things, save bodies and +modes of thought. + +N.B. The Postulates are given after the conclusion of Prop. +xiii. + + +PROPOSITIONS + +PROP. I. Thought is an attribute of God, or God is a thinking +thing. + Proof.-Particular thoughts, or this and that thought, are +modes which, in a certain conditioned manner, express the nature +of God (Pt. i., Prop. xxv., Coroll.). God therefore possesses +the attribute (Pt. i., Def. v.) of which the concept is involved +in all particular thoughts, which latter are conceived thereby. +Thought, therefore, is one of the infinite attributes of God, +which express God's eternal and infinite essence (Pt. i., Def. +vi.). In other words, God is a thinking thing. Q.E.D. + Note.-This proposition is also evident from the fact, that we +are able to conceive an infinite thinking being. For, in +proportion as a thinking being is conceived as thinking more +thoughts, so is it conceived as containing more reality or +perfection. Therefore a being, which can think an infinite +number of things in an infinite number of ways, is, necessarily, +in respect of thinking, infinite. As, therefore, from the +consideration of thought alone, we conceive an infinite being, +thought is necessarily (Pt. i., Deff. iv. and vi.) one of the +infinite attributes of God, as we were desirous of showing. + +PROP. II. Extension is an attribute of God, or God is an +extended thing. + Proof.-The proof of this proposition is similar to that of +the last. + +PROP. III. In God there is necessarily the idea not only of his +essence, but also of all things which necessarily follow from his +essence. + Proof.-God (by the first Prop. of this Part) can think an +infinite number of things in infinite ways, or (what is the same +thing, by Prop. xvi., Part i.) can form the idea of his essence, +and of all things which necessarily follow therefrom. Now all +that is in the power of God necessarily is (Pt. i., Prop. xxxv.). +Therefore, such an idea as we are considering necessarily is, and +in God alone. Q.E.D. (Part i., Prop. xv.) + Note.-The multitude understand by the power of God the free +will of God, and the right over all things that exist, which +latter are accordingly generally considered as contingent. For +it is said that God has the power to destroy all things, and to +reduce them to nothing. Further, the power of God is very often +likened to the power of kings. But this doctrine we have refuted +(Pt. i., Prop. xxxii., Corolls. i. and ii.), and we have shown +(Part i., Prop. xvi.) that God acts by the same necessity, as +that by which he understands himself ; in other words, as it +follows from the necessity of the divine nature (as all admit), +that God understands himself, so also does it follow by the same +necessity, that God performs infinite acts in infinite ways. We +further showed (Part i., Prop. xxxiv.), that God's power is +identical with God's essence in action ; therefore it is as +impossible for us to conceive God as not acting, as to conceive +him as non-existent. If we might pursue the subject further, I +could point out, that the power which is commonly attributed to +God is not only human (as showing that God is conceived by the +multitude as a man, or in the likeness of a man), but involves a +negation of power. However, I am unwilling to go over the same +ground so often. I would only beg the reader again and again, to +turn over frequently in his mind what I have said in Part I from +Prop. xvi. to the end. No one will be able to follow my meaning, +unless he is scrupulously careful not to confound the power of +God with the human power and right of kings. + +PROP. IV. The idea of God, from which an infinite number of +things follow in infinite ways, can only be one. + Proof.-Infinite intellect comprehends nothing save the +attributes of God and his modifications (Part i., Prop. xxx.). +Now God is one (Part i., Prop. xiv., Coroll.). Therefore the +idea of God, wherefrom an infinite number of things follow in +infinite ways, can only be one. Q.E.D. + +PROP. V. The actual being of ideas owns God as its cause, only +in so far as he is considered as a thinking thing, not in so far +as he is unfolded in any other attribute ; that is, the ideas +both of the attributes of God and of particular things do not own +as their efficient cause their objects (ideata) or the things +perceived, but God himself in so far as he is a thinking thing. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from Prop. iii. of this +Part. We there drew the conclusion, that God can form the idea +of his essence, and of all things which follow necessarily +therefrom, solely because he is a thinking thing, and not because +he is the object of his own idea. Wherefore the actual being of +ideas owns for cause God, in so far as he is a thinking thing. +It may be differently proved as follows : the actual being of +ideas is (obviously) a mode of thought, that is (Part i., Prop. +xxv., Coroll.) a mode which expresses in a certain manner the +nature of God, in so far as he is a thinking thing, and therefore +(Part i., Prop. x.) involves the conception of no other attribute +of God, and consequently (by Part i., Ax. iv.) is not the effect +of any attribute save thought. Therefore the actual being of +ideas owns God as its cause, in so far as he is considered as a +thinking thing, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VI. The modes of any given attribute are caused by God, in +so far as he is considered through the attribute of which they +are modes, and not in so far as he is considered through any +other attribute. + Proof.-Each attribute is conceived through itself, without +any other (Part i., Prop. x.) ; wherefore the modes of each +attribute involve the conception of that attribute, but not of +any other. Thus (Part i., Ax. iv.) they are caused by God, only +in so far as he is considered through the attribute whose modes +they are, and not in so far as he is considered through any +other. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence the actual being of things, which are not +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. + +PROP. VII. The order and connection of ideas is the same as the +order and connection of things. + Proof.-This 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. + Corollary.-Hence God's power of thinking is equal to his +realized power of action-that is, whatsoever follows from the +infinite nature of God in the world of extension (formaliter), +follows without exception in the same order and connection from +the idea of God in the world of thought (objective). + Note.-Before going any further, I wish to recall to mind what +has been pointed out above-namely, that whatsoever can be +perceived by the infinite intellect as constituting the essence +of substance, belongs altogether only to one substance : +consequently, substance thinking and substance extended are one +and the same substance, comprehended now through one attribute, +now through the other. So, also, a mode of extension and the +idea of that mode are one and the same thing, though expressed in +two ways. This truth seems to have been dimly recognized by +those Jews who maintained that God, God's intellect, and the +things understood by God are identical. For instance, a circle +existing in nature, and the idea of a circle existing, which is +also in God, are one and the same thing displayed through +different attributes. Thus, whether we conceive nature under the +attribute of extension, or under the attribute of thought, or +under any other attribute, we shall find the same order, or one +and the same chain of causes-that is, the same things following +in either case. + I said that God is the cause of an idea-for instance, of the +idea of a circle,-in so far as he is a thinking thing ; and of a +circle, in so far as he is an extended thing, simply because the +actual being of the idea of a circle can only be perceived as a +proximate cause through another mode of thinking, and that again +through another, and so on to infinity ; so that, so long as we +consider things as modes of thinking, we must explain the order +of the whole of nature, or the whole chain of causes, through the +attribute of thought only. And, in so far as we consider things +as modes of extension, we must explain the order of the whole of +nature through the attributes of extension only ; and so on, in +the case of the other attributes. Wherefore of things as they +are in themselves God is really the cause, inasmuch as he +consists of infinite attributes. I cannot for the present +explain my meaning more clearly. + +PROP. VIII. The ideas of particular things, or of modes, that do +not exist, must be comprehended in the infinite idea of God, in +the same way as the formal essences of particular things or modes +are contained in the attributes of God. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from the last ; it is +understood more clearly from the preceding note. + Corollary.-Hence, so long as particular things do not exist, +except in so far as they are comprehended in the attributes of +God, their representations in thought or ideas do not exist, +except in so far as the infinite idea of God exists ; and when +particular things are said to exist, not only in so far as they +are involved in the attributes of God, but also in so far as they +are said to continue, their ideas will also involve existence, +through which they are said to continue. + Note.-If anyone desires an example to throw more light on +this question, I shall, I fear, not be able to give him any, +which adequately explains the thing of which I here speak, +inasmuch as it is unique ; however, I will endeavour to +illustrate it as far as possible. The nature of a circle is such +that if any number of straight lines intersect within it, the +rectangles formed by their segments will be equal to one another +; thus, infinite equal rectangles are contained in a circle. Yet +none of these rectangles can be said to exist, except in so far +as the circle exists ; nor can the idea of any of these +rectangles be said to exist, except in so far as they are +comprehended in the idea of the circle. Let us grant that, from +this infinite number of rectangles, two only exist. The ideas of +these two not only exist, in so far as they are contained in the +idea of the circle, but also as they involve the existence of +those rectangles ; wherefore they are distinguished from the +remaining ideas of the remaining rectangles. + +PROP. IX. The idea of an individual thing actually existing is +caused by God, not in so far as he is infinite, but in so far as +he is considered as affected by another idea of a thing actually +existing, of which he is the cause, in so far as he is affected +by a third idea, and so on to infinity. + Proof.-The idea of an individual thing actually existing is +an individual mode of thinking, and is distinct from other modes +(by the Corollary 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. + Corollary.-Whatsoever takes place in the individual object of +any idea, the knowledge thereof is in God, in so far only as he +has the idea of the object. + Proof.-Whatsoever 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. + +PROP. X. The being of substance does not appertain to the +essence of man-in other words, substance does not constitute the +actual being2 of man. + Proof.-The 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. + Note.-This 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 +substance-namely, that substance is in its nature infinite, +immutable, indivisible, &c., as anyone may see for himself. + Corollary.-Hence it follows, that the essence of man is +constituted by certain modifications of the attributes of God. +For (by the last Prop.) the being of substance does not belong to +the essence of man. That essence therefore (by i. 15) is +something which is in God, and which without God can neither be +nor be conceived, whether it be a modification (i. 25. Coroll.), +or a mode which expresses God's nature in a certain conditioned +manner. + Note.-Everyone must surely admit, that nothing can be or be +conceived without God. All men agree that God is the one and +only cause of all things, both of their essence and of their +existence ; that is, God is not only the cause of things in +respect to their being made (secundum fieri), but also in respect +to their being (secundum esse). + At the same time many assert, that that, without which a +thing cannot be nor be conceived, belongs to the essence of that +thing ; wherefore they believe that either the nature of God +appertains to the essence of created things, or else that created +things can be or be conceived without God ; or else, as is more +probably the case, they hold inconsistent doctrines. I think the +cause for such confusion is mainly, that they do not keep to the +proper order of philosophic thinking. The nature of God, which +should be reflected on first, inasmuch as it is prior both in the +order of knowledge and the order of nature, they have taken to be +last in the order of knowledge, and have put into the first place +what they call the objects of sensation ; hence, while they are +considering natural phenomena, they give no attention at all to +the divine nature, and, when afterwards they apply their mind to +the study of the divine nature, they are quite unable to bear in +mind the first hypotheses, with which they have overlaid the +knowledge of natural phenomena, inasmuch as such hypotheses are +no help towards understanding the divine nature. So that it is +hardly to be wondered at, that these persons contradict +themselves freely. + However, I pass over this point. My intention her was only +to give a reason for not saying, that that, without which a thing +cannot be or be conceived, belongs to the essence of that thing : +individual things cannot be or be conceived without God, yet God +does not appertain to their essence. I said that "I considered +as belonging to the essence of a thing that, which being given, +the thing is necessarily given also, and which being removed, the +thing is necessarily removed also ; or that without which the +thing, and which itself without the thing can neither be nor be +conceived." (II. Def. ii.) + +PROP. XI. The first element, which constitutes the actual being +of the human mind, is the idea of some particular thing actually +existing. + Proof.-The essence of man (by the Coroll. of the last Prop.) +is constituted by certain modes of the attributes of God, namely +(by II. Ax. ii.), by the modes of thinking, of all which (by II. +Ax. iii.) the idea is prior in nature, and, when the idea is +given, the other modes (namely, those of which the idea is prior +in nature) must be in the same individual (by the same Axiom). +Therefore an idea is the first element constituting the human +mind. But not the idea of a non-existent thing, for then (II. +viii. Coroll.) the idea itself cannot be said to exist ; it must +therefore be the idea of something actually existing. But not of +an infinite thing. For an infinite thing (I.xxi., xxii.), must +always necessarily exist ; this would (by II. Ax. i.) involve an +absurdity. Therefore the first element, which constitutes the +actual being of the human mind, is the idea of something actually +existing. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows, that the human mind is part of +the infinite intellect of God ; thus when we say, that the human +mind perceives this or that, we make the assertion, that God has +this or that idea, not in so far as he is infinite, but in so far +as he is displayed through the nature of the human mind, or in so +far as he constitutes the essence of the human mind ; and when we +say that God has this or that idea, not only in so far as he +constitutes the essence of the human mind, but also in so far as +he, simultaneously with the human mind, has the further idea of +another thing, we assert that the human mind perceives a thing in +part or inadequately. + Note.-Here, I doubt not, readers will come to a stand, and +will call to mind many things which will cause them to hesitate ; +I therefore beg them to accompany me slowly, step by step, and +not to pronounce on my statements, till they have read to the +end. + +PROP. XII. Whatsoever comes to pass in the object of the idea, +which constitutes the human mind, must be perceived by the human +mind, or there will necessarily be an idea in the human mind of +the said occurrence. That is, if the object of the idea +constituting the human mind be a body, nothing can take place in +that body without being perceived by the mind. + Proof.-Whatsoever comes to pass in the object of any idea, +the knowledge thereof is necessarily in God (II. ix. Coroll.), in +so far as he is considered as affected by the idea of the said +object, that is (II. xi.), in so far as he constitutes the mind +of anything. Therefore, whatsoever takes place in the object +constituting the idea of the human mind, the knowledge thereof is +necessarily in God, in so far as he constitutes the essence of +the human mind ; that is (by II. xi. Coroll.) the knowledge of +the said thing will necessarily be in the mind, in other words +the mind perceives it. + Note.-This proposition is also evident, and is more clearly +to be understood from II. vii., which see. + +PROP. XIII. The object of the idea constituting the human mind +is the body, in other words a certain mode of extension which +actually exists, and nothing else. + Proof.-If indeed the body were not the object of the human +mind, the ideas of the modifications of the body would not be in +God (II. ix. Coroll.) in virtue of his constituting our mind, but +in virtue of his constituting the mind of something else ; that +is (II. xi. Coroll.) the ideas of the modifications of the body +would not be in our mind : now (by II. Ax. iv.) we do possess the +idea of the modifications of the body. Therefore the object of +the idea constituting the human mind is the body, and the body as +it actually exists (II. xi.). Further, if there were any other +object of the idea constituting the mind besides body, then, as +nothing can exist from which some effect does not follow (I. +xxxvi.) there would necessarily have to be in our mind an idea, +which would be the effect of that other object (II. xi.) ; but +(I. Ax. v.) there is no such idea. Wherefore the object of our +mind is the body as it exists, and nothing else. Q.E.D. + Note.-We thus comprehend, not only that the human mind is +united to the body, but also the nature of the union between mind +and body. However, no one will be able to grasp this adequately +or distinctly, unless he first has adequate knowledge of the +nature of our body. The propositions we have advanced hitherto +have been entirely general, applying not more to men than to +other individual things, all of which, though in different +degrees, are animated.3 For of everything there is necessarily +an idea in God, of which God is the cause, in the same way as +there is an idea of the human body ; thus whatever we have +asserted of the idea of the human body must necessarily also be +asserted of the idea of everything else. Still, on the other +hand, we cannot deny that ideas, like objects, differ one from +the other, one being more excellent than another and containing +more reality, just as the object of one idea is more excellent +than the object of another idea, and contains more reality. + Wherefore, in order to determine, wherein the human mind +differs from other things, and wherein it surpasses them, it is +necessary for us to know the nature of its object, that is, of +the human body. What this nature is, I am not able here to +explain, nor is it necessary for the proof of what I advance, +that I should do so. I will only say generally, that in +proportion as any given body is more fitted than others for doing +many actions or receiving many impressions at once, so also is +the mind, of which it is the object, more fitted than others for +forming many simultaneous perceptions ; and the more the actions +of the body depend on itself alone, and the fewer other bodies +concur with it in action, the more fitted is the mind of which it +is the object for distinct comprehension. We may thus recognize +the superiority of one mind over others, and may further see the +cause, why we have only a very confused knowledge of our body, +and also many kindred questions, which I will, in the following +propositions, deduce from what has been advanced. Wherefore I +have thought it worth while to explain and prove more strictly my +present statements. In order to do so, I must premise a few +propositions concerning the nature of bodies. + AXIOM I. All bodies are either in motion or at rest. + AXIOM II. Every body is moved sometimes more slowly, +sometimes more quickly. + LEMMA I. Bodies are distinguished from one another in +respect of motion and rest, quickness and slowness, and not in +respect of substance. + Proof.-The first part of this proposition is, I take it, +self-evident. That bodies are not distinguished in respect of +substance, is plain both from I. v. and I. viii. It is brought +out still more clearly from I. xv, note. + LEMMA II. All bodies agree in certain respects. + Proof.-All bodies agree in the fact, that they involve the +conception of one and the same attribute (II., Def. i.). +Further, in the fact that they may be moved less or more quickly, +and may be absolutely in motion or at rest. + LEMMA III. A body in motion or at rest must be determined to +motion or rest by another body, which other body has been +determined to motion or rest by a third body, and that third +again by a fourth, and so on to infinity. + Proof.-Bodies are individual things (II., Def. i.), which +(Lemma I.) are distinguished one from the other in respect to +motion and rest ; thus (I. xxviii.) each must necessarily be +determined to motion or rest by another individual thing, namely +(II. vi.), by another body, which other body is also (Ax. i.) in +motion or at rest. And this body again can only have been set in +motion or caused to rest by being determined by a third body to +motion or rest. This third body again by a fourth, and so on to +infinity. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows, that a body in motion keeps in +motion, until it is determined to a state of rest by some other +body ; and a body at rest remains so, until it is determined to a +state of motion by some other body. This is indeed self-evident. +For when I suppose, for instance, that a given body, A, is at +rest, and do not take into consideration other bodies in motion, +I cannot affirm anything concerning the body A, except that it is +at rest. If it afterwards comes to pass that A is in motion, +this cannot have resulted from its having been at rest, for no +other consequence could have been involved than its remaining at +rest. If, on the other hand, A be given in motion, we shall, so +long as we only consider A, be unable to affirm anything +concerning it, except that it is in motion. If A is +subsequently found to be at rest, this rest cannot be the result +of A's previous motion, for such motion can only have led to +continued motion ; the state of rest therefore must have resulted +from something, which was not in A, namely, from an external +cause determining A to a state of rest. + Axiom I.-All modes, wherein one body is affected by another +body, follow simultaneously from the nature of the body affected +and the body affecting ; so that one and the same body may be +moved in different modes, according to the difference in the +nature of the bodies moving it ; on the other hand, different +bodies may be moved in different modes by one and the same body. + Axiom II.-When a body in motion impinges on another body at +rest, which it is unable to move, it recoils, in order to +continue its motion, and the angle made by the line of motion in +the recoil and the plane of the body at rest, whereon the moving +body has impinged, will be equal to the angle formed by the line +of motion of incidence and the same plane. + So far we have been speaking only of the most simple bodies, +which are only distinguished one from the other by motion and +rest, quickness and slowness. We now pass on to compound bodies. + Definition.-When any given bodies of the same or different +magnitude are compelled by other bodies to remain in contact, or +if they be moved at the same or different rates of speed, so that +their mutual movements should preserve among themselves a certain +fixed relation, we say that such bodies are in union, and that +together they compose one body or individual, which is +distinguished from other bodies by the fact of this union. + Axiom III.-In proportion as the parts of an individual, or a +compound body, are in contact over a greater or less superficies, +they will with greater or less difficulty admit of being moved +from their position ; consequently the individual will, with +greater or less difficulty, be brought to assume another form. +Those bodies, whose parts are in contact over large superficies, +are called hard ; those, whose parts are in contact over small +superficies, are called soft ; those, whose parts are in motion +among one another, are called fluid. + LEMMA IV. If from a body or individual, compounded of +several bodies, certain bodies be separated, and if, at the same +time, an equal number of other bodies of the same nature take +their place, the individual will preserve its nature as before, +without any change in its actuality (forma). + Proof.-Bodies (Lemma i.) are not distinguished in respect of +substance : that which constitutes the actuality (formam) of an +individual consists (by the last Def.) in a union of bodies ; but +this union, although there is a continual change of bodies, will +(by our hypothesis) be maintained ; the individual, therefore, +will retain its nature as before, both in respect of substance +and in respect of mode. Q.E.D. + LEMMA V. If the parts composing an individual become greater +or less, but in such proportion, that they all preserve the same +mutual relations of motion and rest, the individual will still +preserve its original nature, and its actuality will not be +changed. + Proof.-The same as for the last Lemma. + LEMMA VI. If certain bodies composing an individual be +compelled to change the motion, which they have in one direction, +for motion in another direction, but in such a manner, that they +be able to continue their motions and their mutual communication +in the same relations as before, the individual will retain its +own nature without any change of its actuality. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident, for the individual +is supposed to retain all that, which, in its definition, we +spoke of as its actual being. + LEMMA VII. Furthermore, the individual thus composed +preserves its nature, whether it be, as a whole, in motion or at +rest, whether it be moved in this or that direction ; so long as +each part retains its motion, and preserves its communication +with other parts as before. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from the definition of an +individual prefixed to Lemma iv. + Note.-We thus see, how a composite individual may be affected +in many different ways, and preserve its nature notwithstanding. +Thus far we have conceived an individual as composed of bodies +only distinguished one from the other in respect of motion and +rest, speed and slowness ; that is, of bodies of the most simple +character. If, however, we now conceive another individual +composed of several individuals of diverse natures, we shall find +that the number of ways in which it can be affected, without +losing its nature, will be greatly multiplied. Each of its parts +would consist of several bodies, and therefore (by Lemma vi.) +each part would admit, without change to its nature, of quicker +or slower motion, and would consequently be able to transmit its +motions more quickly or more slowly to the remaining parts. If +we further conceive a third kind of individuals composed of +individuals of this second kind, we shall find that they may be +affected in a still greater number of ways without changing their +actuality. We may easily proceed thus to infinity, and conceive +the whole of nature as one individual, whose parts, that is, all +bodies, vary in infinite ways, without any change in the +individual as a whole. I should feel bound to explain and +demonstrate this point at more length, if I were writing a +special treatise on body. But I have already said that such is +not my object ; I have only touched on the question, because it +enables me to prove easily that which I have in view. + +POSTULATES + I. The human body is composed of a number of individual +parts, of diverse nature, each one of which is in itself +extremely complex. + II. Of the individual parts composing the human body some +are fluid, some soft, some hard. + III. The individual parts composing the human body, and +consequently the human body itself, are affected in a variety of +ways by external bodies. + IV. The human body stands in need for its preservation of a +number of other bodies, by which it is continually, so to speak, +regenerated. + V. When the fluid part of the human body is determined by an +external body to impinge often on another soft part, it changes +the surface of the latter, and, as it were, leaves the impression +thereupon of the external body which impels it. + VI. The human body can move external bodies, and arrange +them in a variety of ways. + +PROP. XIV. The human mind is capable of perceiving a great +number of things, and is so in proportion as its body is capable +of receiving a great number of impressions. + Proof.-The human body (by Post. iii. and vi.) is affected in +very many ways by external bodies, and is capable in very many +ways of affecting external bodies. But (II. xii.) the human +mind must perceive all that takes place in the human body ; the +human mind is, therefore, capable of perceiving a great number of +things, and is so in proportion, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XV. The idea, which constitutes the actual being of the +human mind, is not simple, but compounded of a great number of +ideas. + Proof.-The idea constituting the actual being of the human +mind is the idea of the body (II. xiii.), which (Post. i.) is +composed of a great number of complex individual parts. But +there is necessarily in God the idea of each individual part +whereof the body is composed (II. viii. Coroll.) ; therefore +(II. vii.), the idea of the human body is composed of these +numerous ideas of its component parts. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVI. The idea of every mode, in which the human body is +affected by external bodies, must involve the nature of the human +body, and also the nature of the external body. + Proof.-All the modes, in which any given body is affected, +follow from the nature of the body affected, and also from the +nature of the affecting body (by Ax. i., after the Coroll. of +Lemma iii.), wherefore their idea also necessarily (by I. Ax. +iv.) involves the nature of both bodies ; therefore, the idea of +every mode, in which the human body is affected by external +bodies, involves the nature of the human body and of the external +body. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-Hence it follows, first, that the human mind +perceives the nature of a variety of bodies, together with the +nature of its own. + Corollary II.-It follows, secondly, that the ideas, which we +have of external bodies, indicate rather the constitution of our +own body than the nature of external bodies. I have amply +illustrated this in the Appendix to Part I. + +PROP. XVII. If the human body is affected in a manner which +involves the nature of any external body, the human mind will +regard the said external body as actually existing, or as present +to itself, until the human body be affected in such a way, as to +exclude the existence or the presence of the said external body. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident, for so long as the +human body continues to be thus affected, so long will the human +mind (II. xii.) regard this modification of the body-that is (by +the last Prop.), it will have the idea of the mode as actually +existing, and this idea involves the nature of the external body. +In other words, it will have the idea which does not exclude, but +postulates the existence or presence of the nature of the +external body ; therefore the mind (by II. xvi., Coroll. i.) will +regard the external body as actually existing, until it is +affected, &c. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-The mind is able to regard as present external +bodies, by which the human body has once been affected, even +though they be no longer in existence or present. + Proof.-When external bodies determine the fluid parts of the +human body, so that they often impinge on the softer parts, they +change the surface of the last named (Post. v.) ; hence (Ax. ii., +after the Coroll. of Lemma iii.) they are refracted therefrom in +a different manner from that which they followed before such +change ; and, further, when afterwards they impinge on the new +surfaces by their own spontaneous movement, they will be +refracted in the same manner, as though they had been impelled +towards those surfaces by external bodies ; consequently, they +will, while they continue to be thus refracted, affect the human +body in the same manner, whereof the mind (II. xii.) will again +take cognizance-that is (II. xvii.), the mind will again regard +the external body as present, and will do so, as often as the +fluid parts of the human body impinge on the aforesaid surfaces +by their own spontaneous motion. Wherefore, although the +external bodies, by which the human body has once been affected, +be no longer in existence, the mind will nevertheless regard them +as present, as often as this action of the body is repeated. +Q.E.D. + Note.-We thus see how it comes about, as is often the case, +that we regard as present many things which are not. It is +possible that the same result may be brought about by other +causes ; but I think it suffices for me here to have indicated +one possible explanation, just as well as if I had pointed out +the true cause. Indeed, I do not think I am very far from the +truth, for all my assumptions are based on postulates, which +rest, almost without exception, on experience, that cannot be +controverted by those who have shown, as we have, that the human +body, as we feel it, exists (Coroll. after II. xiii.). +Furthermore (II. vii. Coroll., II. xvi. Coroll. ii.), we clearly +understand what is the difference between the idea, say, of +Peter, which constitutes the essence of Peter's mind, and the +idea of the said Peter, which is in another man, say, Paul. The +former directly answers to the essence of Peter's own body, and +only implies existence so long as Peter exists ; the latter +indicates rather the disposition of Paul's body than the nature +of Peter, and, therefore, while this disposition of Paul's body +lasts, Paul's mind will regard Peter as present to itself, even +though he no longer exists. Further, to retain the usual +phraseology, the modifications of the human body, of which the +ideas represent external bodies as present to us, we will call +the images of things, though they do not recall the figure of +things. When the mind regards bodies in this fashion, we say +that it imagines. I will here draw attention to the fact, in +order to indicate where error lies, that the imaginations of the +mind, looked at in themselves, do not contain error. The mind +does not err in the mere act of imagining, but only in so far as +it is regarded as being without the idea, which excludes the +existence of such things as it imagines to be present to it. If +the mind, while imagining non-existent things as present to it, +is at the same time conscious that they do not really exist, this +power of imagination must be set down to the efficacy of its +nature, and not to a fault, especially if this faculty of +imagination depend solely on its own nature-that is (I. Def. +vii.), if this faculty of imagination be free. + +PROP. XVIII. If the human body has once been affected by two or +more bodies at the same time, when the mind afterwards imagines +any of them, it will straightway remember the others also. + Proof.-The mind (II. xvii. Coroll.) imagines any given body, +because the human body is affected and disposed by the +impressions from an external body, in the same manner as it is +affected when certain of its parts are acted on by the said +external body ; but (by our hypothesis) the body was then so +disposed, that the mind imagined two bodies at once ; therefore, +it will also in the second case imagine two bodies at once, and +the mind, when it imagines one, will straightway remember the +other. Q.E.D. + Note.-We now clearly see what Memory is. It is simply a +certain association of ideas involving the nature of things +outside the human body, which association arises in the mind +according to the order and association of the modifications +(affectiones) of the human body. I say, first, it is an +association of those ideas only, which involve the nature of +things outside the human body : not of ideas which answer to the +nature of the said things : ideas of the modifications of the +human body are, strictly speaking (II. xvi.), those which involve +the nature both of the human body and of external bodies. I say, +secondly, that this association arises according to the order and +association of the modifications of the human body, in order to +distinguish it from that association of ideas, which arises from +the order of the intellect, whereby the mind perceives things +through their primary causes, and which is in all men the same. +And hence we can further clearly understand, why the mind from +the thought of one thing, should straightway arrive at the +thought of another thing, which has no similarity with the first +; for instance, from the thought of the word pomum (an apple), a +Roman would straightway arrive at the thought of the fruit apple, +which has no similitude with the articulate sound in question, +nor anything in common with it, except that the body of the man +has often been affected by these two things ; that is, that the +man has often heard the word pomum, while he was looking at the +fruit ; similarly every man will go on from one thought to +another, according as his habit has ordered the images of things +in his body. For a soldier, for instance, when he sees the +tracks of a horse in sand, will at once pass from the thought of +a horse to the thought of a horseman, and thence to the thought +of war, &c. ; while a countryman will proceed from the thought of +a horse to the thought of a plough, a field, &c. Thus every man +will follow this or that train of thought, according as he has +been in the habit of conjoining and associating the mental images +of things in this or that manner. + +PROP. XIX. The human mind has no knowledge of the body, and does +not know it to exist, save through the ideas of the modifications +whereby the body is affected. + Proof.-The human mind is the very idea or knowledge of the +human body (II. xiii.), which (II. ix.) is in God, in so far as +he is regarded as affected by another idea of a particular thing +actually existing : or, inasmuch as (Post. iv.) the human body +stands in need of very many bodies whereby it is, as it were, +continually regenerated ; and the order and connection of ideas +is the same as the order and connection of causes (II. vii.) ; +this idea will therefore be in God, in so far as he is regarded +as affected by the ideas of very many particular things. Thus +God has the idea of the human body, or knows the human body, in +so far as he is affected by very many other ideas, and not in so +far as he constitutes the nature of the human mind ; that is (by +II. xi. Coroll.), the human mind does not know the human body. +But the ideas of the modifications of body are in God, in so far +as he constitutes the nature of the human mind, or the human +mind perceives those modifications (II. xii.), and consequently +(II. xvi.) the human body itself, and as actually existing ; +therefore the mind perceives thus far only the human body. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XX. The idea or knowledge of the human mind is also in +God, following in God in the same manner, and being referred to +God in the same manner, as the idea or knowledge of the human +body. + Proof.-Thought is an attribute of God (II. i.) ; therefore +(II. iii.) there must necessarily be in God the idea both of +thought itself and of all its modifications, consequently also of +the human mind (II. xi.). Further, this idea or knowledge of the +mind does not follow from God, in so far as he is infinite, but +in so far as he is affected by another idea of an individual +thing (II. ix.). But (II. vii.) the order and connection of +ideas is the same as the order and connection of causes ; +therefore this idea or knowledge of the mind is in God and is +referred to God, in the same manner as the idea or knowledge of +the body. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXI. This idea of the mind is united to the mind in the +same way as the mind is united to the body. + Proof.-That the mind is united to the body we have shown from +the fact, that the body is the object of the mind (II. xii. and +xiii.) ; and so for the same reason the idea of the mind must be +united with its object, that is, with the mind in the same manner +as the mind is united to the body. Q.E.D. + Note.-This proposition is comprehended much more clearly from +what we have said in the note to II. vii. We there showed that +the idea of body and body, that is, mind and body (II. xiii.), +are one and the same individual conceived now under the attribute +of thought, now under the attribute of extension ; wherefore the +idea of the mind and the mind itself are one and the same thing, +which is conceived under one and the same attribute, namely, +thought. The idea of the mind, I repeat, and the mind itself are +in God by the same necessity and follow from him from the same +power of thinking. Strictly speaking, the idea of the mind, that +is, the idea of an idea, is nothing but the distinctive quality +(forma) of the idea in so far as it is conceived as a mode of +thought without reference to the object ; if a man knows +anything, he, by that very fact, knows that he knows it, and at +the same time knows that he knows that he knows it, and so on to +infinity. But I will treat of this hereafter. + +PROP. XXII. The human mind perceives not only the modifications +of the body, but also the ideas of such modifications. + Proof.-The ideas of the ideas of modifications follow in God +in the same manner, and are referred to God in the same manner, +as the ideas of the said modifications. This is proved in the +same way as II. xx. But the ideas of the modifications of the +body are in the human mind (II. xii.), that is, in God, in so far +as he constitutes the essence of the human mind ; therefore the +ideas of these ideas will be in God, in so far as he has the +knowledge or idea of the human mind, that is (II. xxi.), they +will be in the human mind itself, which therefore perceives not +only the modifications of the body, but also the ideas of such +modifications. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIII. The mind does not know itself, except in so far as +it perceives the ideas of the modifications of the body. + Proof.-The idea or knowledge of the mind (II. xx.) follows in +God in the same manner, and is referred to God in the same +manner, as the idea or knowledge of the body. But since (II. +xix.) the human mind does not know the human body itself, that is +(II. xi. Coroll.), since the knowledge of the human body is not +referred to God, in so far as he constitutes the nature of the +human mind ; therefore, neither is the knowledge of the mind +referred to God, in so far as he constitutes the essence of the +human mind ; therefore (by the same Coroll. II. xi.), the human +mind thus far has no knowledge of itself. Further the ideas of +the modifications, whereby the body is affected, involve the +nature of the human body itself (II. xvi.), that is (II. xiii.), +they agree with the nature of the mind ; wherefore the knowledge +of these ideas necessarily involves knowledge of the mind ; but +(by the last Prop.) the knowledge of these ideas is in the human +mind itself ; wherefore the human mind thus far only has +knowledge of itself. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIV. The human mind does not involve an adequate +knowledge of the parts composing the human body. + Proof.-The parts composing the human body do not belong to +the essence of that body, except in so far as they communicate +their motions to one another in a certain fixed relation (Def. +after Lemma iii.), not in so far as they can be regarded as +individuals without relation to the human body. The parts of the +human body are highly complex individuals (Post. i.), whose +parts (Lemma iv.) can be separated from the human body without in +any way destroying the nature and distinctive quality of the +latter, and they can communicate their motions (Ax. i., after +Lemma iii.) to other bodies in another relation ; therefore (II. +iii.) the idea or knowledge of each part will be in God, +inasmuch (II. ix.) as he is regarded as affected by another idea +of a particular thing, which particular thing is prior in the +order of nature to the aforesaid part (II. vii.). We may affirm +the same thing of each part of each individual composing the +human body ; therefore, the knowledge of each part composing the +human body is in God, in so far as he is affected by very many +ideas of things, and not in so far as he has the idea of the +human body only, in other words, the idea which constitutes the +nature of the human mind (II. xiii) ; therefore (II. xi. +Coroll.), the human mind does not involve an adequate knowledge +of the human body. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXV. The idea of each modification of the human body does +not involve an adequate knowledge of the external body. + Proof.-We have shown that the idea of a modification of the +human body involves the nature of an external body, in so far as +that external body conditions the human body in a given manner. +But, in so far as the external body is an individual, which has +no reference to the human body, the knowledge or idea thereof is +in God (II. ix.), in so far as God is regarded as affected by the +idea of a further thing, which (II. vii.) is naturally prior to +the said external body. Wherefore an adequate knowledge of the +external body is not in God, in so far as he has the idea of the +modification of the human body ; in other words, the idea of the +modification of the human body does not involve an adequate +knowledge of the external body. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVI. The human mind does not perceive any external body +as actually existing, except through the ideas of the +modifications of its own body. + Proof.-If the human body is in no way affected by a given +external body, then (II. vii.) neither is the idea of the human +body, in other words, the human mind, affected in any way by the +idea of the existence of the said external body, nor does it in +any manner perceive its existence. But, in so far as the human +body is affected in any way by a given external body, thus far +(II. xvi. and Coroll.) it perceives that external body. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-In so far as the human mind imagines an external +body, it has not an adequate knowledge thereof. + Proof.-When the human mind regards external bodies through +the ideas of the modifications of its own body, we say that it +imagines (see II. xvii. note) ; now the mind can only imagine +external bodies as actually existing. Therefore (by II. xxv.), +in so far as the mind imagines external bodies, it has not an +adequate knowledge of them. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVII. The idea of each modification of the human body +does not involve an adequate knowledge of the human body itself. + Proof.-Every idea of a modification of the human body +involves the nature of the human body, in so far as the human +body is regarded as affected in a given manner (II. xvi.). But, +inasmuch as the human body is an individual which may be affected +in many other ways, the idea of the said modification, &c. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVIII. The ideas of the modifications of the human body, +in so far as they have reference only to the human mind, are not +clear and distinct, but confused. + Proof.-The ideas of the modifications of the human body +involve the nature both of the human body and of external bodies +(II. xvi.) ; they must involve the nature not only of the human +body but also of its parts ; for the modifications are modes +(Post. iii.), whereby the parts of the human body, and, +consequently, the human body as a whole are affected. But (by +II. xxiv., xxv.) the adequate knowledge of external bodies, as +also of the parts composing the human body, is not in God, in so +far as he is regarded as affected by the human mind, but in so +far as he is regarded as affected by other ideas. These ideas of +modifications, in so far as they are referred to the human mind +alone, are as consequences without premisses, in other words, +confused ideas. Q.E.D. + Note.-The idea which constitutes the nature of the human mind +is, in the same manner, proved not to be, when considered in +itself alone, clear and distinct ; as also is the case with the +idea of the human mind, and the ideas of the ideas of the +modifications of the human body, in so far as they are referred +to the mind only, as everyone may easily see. + +PROP. XXIX. The idea of the idea of each modification of the +human body does not involve an adequate knowledge of the human +mind. + Proof.-The idea of a modification of the human body (II. +xxvii.) does not involve an adequate knowledge of the said body, +in other words, does not adequately express its nature ; that is +(II. xiii.) it does not agree with the nature of the mind +adequately ; therefore (I. Ax. vi) the idea of this idea does not +adequately express the nature of the human mind, or does not +involve an adequate knowledge thereof. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that the human mind, when it +perceives things after the common order of nature, has not an +adequate but only a confused and fragmentary knowledge of itself, +of its own body, and of external bodies. For the mind does not +know itself, except in so far as it perceives the ideas of the +modifications of body (II. xxiii.). It only perceives its own +body (II. xix.) through the ideas of the modifications, and only +perceives external bodies through the same means ; thus, in so +far as it has such ideas of modification, it has not an adequate +knowledge of itself (II. xxix.), nor of its own body (II. +xxvii.), nor of external bodies (II. xxv.), but only a +fragmentary and confused knowledge thereof (II. xxviii. and +note). Q.E.D. + Note.-I say expressly, that the mind has not an adequate but +only a confused knowledge of itself, its own body, and of +external bodies, whenever it perceives things after the common +order of nature ; that is, whenever it is determined from +without, namely, by the fortuitous play of circumstance, to +regard this or that ; not at such times as it is determined from +within, that is, by the fact of regarding several things at once, +to understand their points of agreement, difference, and +contrast. Whenever it is determined in anywise from within, it +regards things clearly and distinctly, as I will show below. + +PROP. XXX. We can only have a very inadequate knowledge of the +duration of our body. + Proof.-The duration of our body does not depend on its +essence (II. Ax. i.), nor on the absolute nature of God (I. +xxi.). But (I. xxviii.) it is conditioned to exist and operate +by causes, which in their turn are conditioned to exist and +operate in a fixed and definite relation by other causes, these +last again being conditioned by others, and so on to infinity. +The duration of our body therefore depends on the common order of +nature, or the constitution of things. Now, however a thing may +be constituted, the adequate knowledge of that thing is in God, +in so far as he has the ideas of all things, and not in so far as +he has the idea of the human body only. (II. ix. Coroll.) +Wherefore the knowledge of the duration of our body is in God +very inadequate, in so far as he is only regarded as constituting +the nature of the human mind ; that is (II. xi. Coroll.), this +knowledge is very inadequate to our mind. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXI. We can only have a very inadequate knowledge of the +duration of particular things external to ourselves. + Proof.-Every particular thing, like the human body, must be +conditioned by another particular thing to exist and operate in a +fixed and definite relation ; this other particular thing must +likewise be conditioned by a third, and so on to infinity. (I. +xxviii.) As we have shown in the foregoing proposition, from +this common property of particular things, we have only a very +inadequate knowledge of the duration of our body ; we must draw a +similar conclusion with regard to the duration of particular +things, namely, that we can only have a very inadequate knowledge +of the duration thereof. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that all particular things are +contingent and perishable. For we can have no adequate idea of +their duration (by the last Prop.), and this is what we must +understand by the contingency and perishableness of things. (I. +xxxiii., Note i.) For (I. xxix.), except in this sense, nothing +is contingent. + +PROP. XXXII. All ideas, in so far as they are referred to God, +are true. + Proof.-All ideas which are in God agree in every respect with +their objects (II. vii. Coroll.), therefore (I. Ax. vi.) they are +all true. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIII. There is nothing positive in ideas, which causes +them to be called false. + Proof.-If this be denied, conceive, if possible, a positive +mode of thinking, which should constitute the distinctive quality +of falsehood. Such a mode of thinking cannot be in God (II. +xxxii.) ; external to God it cannot be or be conceived (I. xv.). +Therefore there is nothing positive in ideas which causes them to +be called false. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIV. Every idea, which in us is absolute or adequate and +perfect, is true. + Proof.-When we say that an idea in us is adequate and +perfect, we say, in other words (II. xi. Coroll.), that the idea +is adequate and perfect in God, in so far as he constitutes the +essence of our mind ; consequently (II. xxxii.), we say that such +an idea is true. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXV. Falsity consists in the privation of knowledge, +which inadequate, fragmentary, or confused ideas involve. + Proof.-There is nothing positive in ideas, which causes them +to be called false (II. xxxiii.) ; but falsity cannot consist in +simple privation (for minds, not bodies, are said to err and to +be mistaken), neither can it consist in absolute ignorance, for +ignorance and error are not identical ; wherefore it consists in +the privation of knowledge, which inadequate, fragmentary, or +confused ideas involve. Q.E.D. + Note.-In the note to II. xvii. I explained how error consists +in the privation of knowledge, but in order to throw more light +on the subject I will give an example. For instance, men are +mistaken in thinking themselves free ; their opinion is made up +of consciousness of their own actions, and ignorance of the +causes by which they are conditioned. Their idea of freedom, +therefore, is simply their ignorance of any cause for their +actions. As for their saying that human actions depend on the +will, this is a mere phrase without any idea to correspond +thereto. What the will is, and how it moves the body, they none +of them know ; those who boast of such knowledge, and feign +dwellings and habitations for the soul, are wont to provoke +either laughter or disgust. So, again, when we look at the sun, +we imagine that it is distant from us about two hundred feet ; +this error does not lie solely in this fancy, but in the fact +that, while we thus imagine, we do not know the sun's true +distance or the cause of the fancy. For although we afterwards +learn, that the sun is distant from us more than six hundred of +the earth's diameters, we none the less shall fancy it to be near +; for we do not imagine the sun as near us, because we are +ignorant of its true distance, but because the modification of +our body involves the essence of the sun, in so far as our said +body is affected thereby. + +PROP. XXXVI. Inadequate and confused ideas follow by the same +necessity, as adequate or clear and distinct ideas. + Proof.-All ideas are in God (I. xv.), and in so far as they +are referred to God are true (II. xxxii.) and (II. vii. Coroll.) +adequate ; therefore there are no ideas confused or inadequate, +except in respect to a particular mind (cf. II. xxiv. and +xxviii.) ; therefore all ideas, whether adequate or inadequate, +follow by the same necessity (II. vi.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXVII. That which is common to all (cf. Lemma II., +above), and which is equally in a part and in the whole, does not +constitute the essence of any particular thing. + Proof.-If this be denied, conceive, if possible, that it +constitutes the essence of some particular thing ; for instance, +the essence of B. Then (II. Def. ii.) it cannot without B either +exist or be conceived ; but this is against our hypothesis. +Therefore it does not appertain to B's essence, nor does it +constitute the essence of any particular thing. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXVIII. Those things, which are common to all, and which +are equally in a part and in the whole, cannot be conceived +except adequately. + Proof.-Let A be something, which is common to all bodies, and +which is equally present in the part of any given body and in the +whole. I say A cannot be conceived except adequately. For the +idea thereof in God will necessarily be adequate (II. vii. +Coroll.), both in so far as God has the idea of the human body, +and also in so far as he has the idea of the modifications of the +human body, which (II. xvi., xxv., xxvii.) involve in part the +nature of the human body and the nature of external bodies ; that +is (II. xii., xiii.), the idea in God will necessarily be +adequate, both in so far as he constitutes the human mind, and in +so far as he has the ideas, which are in the human mind. +Therefore the mind (II. xi. Coroll.) necessarily perceives A +adequately, and has this adequate perception, both in so far as +it perceives itself, and in so far as it perceives its own or any +external body, nor can A be conceived in any other manner. +Q.E.D. + Corollary-Hence it follows that there are certain ideas or +notions common to all men ; for (by Lemma ii.) all bodies agree +in certain respects, which (by the foregoing Prop.) must be +adequately or clearly and distinctly perceived by all. + +PROP. XXXIX. That, which is common to and a property of the +human body and such other bodies as are wont to affect the human +body, and which is present equally in each part of either, or in +the whole, will be represented by an adequate idea in the mind. + Proof.-If A be that, which is common to and a property of the +human body and external bodies, and equally present in the human +body and in the said external bodies, in each part of each +external body and in the whole, there will be an adequate idea of +A in God (II. vii. Coroll.), both in so far as he has the idea of +the human body, and in so far as he has the ideas of the given +external bodies. Let it now be granted, that the human body is +affected by an external body through that, which it has in common +therewith, namely, A ; the idea of this modification will involve +the property A (II. xvi.), and therefore (II. vii. Coroll.) the +idea of this modification, in so far as it involves the property +A, will be adequate in God, in so far as God is affected by the +idea of the human body ; that is (II. xiii.), in so far as he +constitutes the nature of the human mind ; therefore (II. xi. +Coroll.) this idea is also adequate in the human mind. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that the mind is fitted to +perceive adequately more things, in proportion as its body has +more in common with other bodies. + +PROP. XL. Whatsoever ideas in the mind follow from ideas which +are therein adequate, are also themselves adequate. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident. For when we say +that an idea in the human mind follows from ideas which are +therein adequate, we say, in other words (II. xi. Coroll.), that +an idea is in the divine intellect, whereof God is the cause, not +in so far as he is infinite, nor in so far as he is affected by +the ideas of very many particular things, but only in so far as +he constitutes the essence of the human mind. + Note I.-I have thus set forth the cause of those notions, +which are common to all men, and which form the basis of our +ratiocination. But there are other causes of certain axioms or +notions, which it would be to the purpose to set forth by this +method of ours ; for it would thus appear what notions are more +useful than others, and what notions have scarcely any use at +all. Furthermore, we should see what notions are common to all +men, and what notions are only clear and distinct to those who +are unshackled by prejudice, and we should detect those which are +ill-founded. Again we should discern whence the notions called +secondary derived their origin, and consequently the axioms on +which they are founded, and other points of interest connected +with these questions. But I have decided to pass over the +subject here, partly because I have set it aside for another +treatise, partly because I am afraid of wearying the reader by +too great prolixity. Nevertheless, in order not to omit anything +necessary to be known, I will briefly set down the causes, whence +are derived the terms styled transcendental, such as Being, +Thing, Something. These terms arose from the fact, that the +human body, being limited, is only capable of distinctly forming +a certain number of images (what an image is I explained in the +II. xvii. note) within itself at the same time ; if this number +be exceeded, the images will begin to be confused ; if this +number of images, of which the body is capable of forming +distinctly within itself, be largely exceeded, all will become +entirely confused one with another. This being so, it is evident +(from II. Prop. xvii. Coroll., and xviii.) that the human mind +can distinctly imagine as many things simultaneously, as its body +can form images simultaneously. When the images become quite +confused in the body, the mind also imagines all bodies +confusedly without any distinction, and will comprehend them, as +it were, under one attribute, namely, under the attribute of +Being, Thing, &c. The same conclusion can be drawn from the fact +that images are not always equally vivid, and from other +analogous causes, which there is no need to explain here ; for +the purpose which we have in view it is sufficient for us to +consider one only. All may be reduced to this, that these terms +represent ideas in the highest degree confused. From similar +causes arise those notions, which we call general, such as man, +horse, dog, &c. They arise, to wit, from the fact that so many +images, for instance, of men, are formed simultaneously in the +human mind, that the powers of imagination break down, not indeed +utterly, but to the extent of the mind losing count of small +differences between individuals (e.g. colour, size, &c.) and +their definite number, and only distinctly imagining that, in +which all the individuals, in so far as the body is affected by +them, agree ; for that is the point, in which each of the said +individuals chiefly affected the body ; this the mind expresses +by the name man, and this it predicates of an infinite number of +particular individuals. For, as we have said, it is unable to +imagine the definite number of individuals. We must, however, +bear in mind, that these general notions are not formed by all +men in the same way, but vary in each individual according as the +point varies, whereby the body has been most often affected and +which the mind most easily imagines or remembers. For instance, +those who have most often regarded with admiration the stature of +man, will by the name of man understand an animal of erect +stature ; those who have been accustomed to regard some other +attribute, will form a different general image of man, for +instance, that man is a laughing animal, a two-footed animal +without feathers, a rational animal, and thus, in other cases, +everyone will form general images of things according to the +habit of his body. + It is thus not to be wondered at, that among philosophers, +who seek to explain things in nature merely by the images formed +of them, so many controversies should have arisen. + Note II.-From all that has been said above it is clear, that +we, in many cases, perceive and form our general notions :-(1.) +From particular things represented to our intellect +fragmentarily, confusedly, and without order through our senses +(II. xxix. Coroll.) ; I have settled to call such perceptions by +the name of knowledge from the mere suggestions of experience.4 +(2.) From symbols, e.g., from the fact of having read or heard +certain words we remember things and form certain ideas +concerning them, similar to those through which we imagine things +(II. xviii. note). I shall call both these ways of regarding +things knowledge of the first kind, opinion, or imagination. +(3.) From the fact that we have notions common to all men, and +adequate ideas of the properties of things (II. xxxviii. Coroll., +xxxix. and Coroll. and xl.) ; this I call reason and knowledge of +the second kind. Besides these two kinds of knowledge, there is, +as I will hereafter show, a third kind of knowledge, which we +will call intuition. This kind of knowledge proceeds from an +adequate idea of the absolute essence of certain attributes of +God to the adequate knowledge of the essence of things. I will +illustrate all three kinds of knowledge by a single example. +Three numbers are given for finding a fourth, which shall be to +the third as the second is to the first. Tradesmen without +hesitation multiply the second by the third, and divide the +product by the first ; either because they have not forgotten the +rule which they received from a master without any proof, or +because they have often made trial of it with simple numbers, or +by virtue of the proof of the nineteenth proposition of the +seventh book of Euclid, namely, in virtue of the general property +of proportionals. + But with very simple numbers there is no need of this. For +instance, one, two, three, being given, everyone can see that the +fourth proportional is six ; and this is much clearer, because we +infer the fourth number from an intuitive grasping of the ratio, +which the first bears to the second. + +PROP. XLI. Knowledge of the first kind is the only source of +falsity, knowledge of the second and third kinds is necessarily +true. + Proof.-To knowledge of the first kind we have (in the +foregoing note) assigned all those ideas, which are inadequate +and confused ; therefore this kind of knowledge is the only +source of falsity (II. xxxv.). Furthermore, we assigned to the +second and third kinds of knowledge those ideas which are +adequate ; therefore these kinds are necessarily true (II. +xxxiv.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLII. Knowledge of the second and third kinds, not +knowledge of the first kind, teaches us to distinguish the true +from the false. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident. He, who knows how +to distinguish between true and false, must have an adequate idea +of true and false. That is (II. xl., note ii.), he must know the +true and the false by the second or third kind of knowledge. + +PROP. XLIII. He, who has a true idea, simultaneously knows that +he has a true idea, and cannot doubt of the truth of the thing +perceived. + Proof.-A true idea in us is an idea which is adequate in God, +in so far as he is displayed through the nature of the human mind +(II. xi. Coroll.). Let us suppose that there is in God, in so +far as he is displayed through the human mind, an adequate idea, +A. The idea of this idea must also necessarily be in God, and be +referred to him in the same way as the idea A (by II. xx., +whereof the proof is of universal application). But the idea A +is supposed to be referred to God, in so far as he is displayed +through the human mind ; therefore, the idea of the idea A must +be referred to God in the same manner ; that is (by II. xi. +Coroll.), the adequate idea of the idea A will be in the mind, +which has the adequate idea A ; therefore he, who has an adequate +idea or knows a thing truly (II. xxxiv.), must at the same time +have an adequate idea or true knowledge of his knowledge ; that +is, obviously, he must be assured. Q.E.D. + Note.-I explained in the note to II. xxi. what is meant by +the idea of an idea ; but we may remark that the foregoing +proposition is in itself sufficiently plain. No one, who has a +true idea, is ignorant that a true idea involves the highest +certainty. For to have a true idea is only another expression +for knowing a thing perfectly, or as well as possible. No one, +indeed, can doubt of this, unless he thinks that an idea is +something lifeless, like a picture on a panel, and not a mode of +thinking-namely, the very act of understanding. And who, I ask, +can know that he understands anything, unless he do first +understand it? In other words, who can know that he is sure of a +thing, unless he be first sure of that thing? Further, what can +there be more clear, and more certain, than a true idea as a +standard of truth? Even as light displays both itself and +darkness, so is truth a standard both of itself and of falsity. + I think I have thus sufficiently answered these +questions-namely, if a true idea is distinguished from a false +idea, only in so far as it is said to agree with its object, a +true idea has no more reality or perfection than a false idea +(since the two are only distinguished by an extrinsic mark) ; +consequently, neither will a man who has a true idea have any +advantage over him who has only false ideas. Further, how comes +it that men have false ideas? Lastly, how can anyone be sure, +that he has ideas which agree with their objects? These +questions, I repeat, I have, in my opinion, sufficiently +answered. The difference between a true idea and a false idea is +plain : from what was said in II. xxxv., the former is related to +the latter as being is to not-being. The causes of falsity I +have set forth very clearly in II. xix. and II. xxxv. with the +note. From what is there stated, the difference between a man +who has true ideas, and a man who has only false ideas, is made +apparent. As for the last question-as to how a man can be sure +that he has ideas that agree with their objects, I have just +pointed out, with abundant clearness, that his knowledge arises +from the simple fact, that he has an idea which corresponds with +its object-in other words, that truth is its own standard. We +may add that our mind, in so far as it perceives things truly, is +part of the infinite intellect of God (II. xi. Coroll.) ; +therefore, the clear and distinct ideas of the mind are as +necessarily true as the ideas of God. + +PROP. XLIV. It is not in the nature of reason to regard things +as contingent, but as necessary. + Proof.-It is in the nature of reason to perceive things truly +(II. xli.), namely (I. Ax. vi.), as they are in themselves-that +is (I. xxix.), not as contingent, but as necessary. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-Hence it follows, that it is only through our +imagination that we consider things, whether in respect to the +future or the past, as contingent. + Note.-How this way of looking at things arises, I will +briefly explain. We have shown above (II. xvii. and Coroll.) +that the mind always regards things as present to itself, even +though they be not in existence, until some causes arise which +exclude their existence and presence. Further (II. xviii.), we +showed that, if the human body has once been affected by two +external bodies simultaneously, the mind, when it afterwards +imagines one of the said external bodies, will straightway +remember the other-that is, it will regard both as present to +itself, unless there arise causes which exclude their existence +and presence. Further, no one doubts that we imagine time, from +the fact that we imagine bodies to be moved some more slowly than +others, some more quickly, some at equal speed. Thus, let us +suppose that a child yesterday saw Peter for the first time in +the morning, Paul at noon, and Simon in the evening ; then, that +today he again sees Peter in the morning. It is evident, from +II. Prop. xviii., that, as soon as he sees the morning light, he +will imagine that the sun will traverse the same parts of the +sky, as it did when he saw it on the preceding day ; in other +words, he will imagine a complete day, and, together with his +imagination of the morning, he will imagine Peter ; with noon, he +will imagine Paul ; and with evening, he will imagine Simon-that +is, he will imagine the existence of Paul and Simon in relation +to a future time ; on the other hand, if he sees Simon in the +evening, he will refer Peter and Paul to a past time, by +imagining them simultaneously with the imagination of a past +time. If it should at any time happen, that on some other +evening the child should see James instead of Simon, he will, on +the following morning, associate with his imagination of evening +sometimes Simon, sometimes James, not both together : for the +child is supposed to have seen, at evening, one or other of them, +not both together. His imagination will therefore waver ; and, +with the imagination of future evenings, he will associate first +one, then the other-that is, he will imagine them in the future, +neither of them as certain, but both as contingent. This +wavering of the imagination will be the same, if the imagination +be concerned with things which we thus contemplate, standing in +relation to time past or time present : consequently, we may +imagine things as contingent, whether they be referred to time +present, past, or future. + Corollary II.-It is in the nature of reason to perceive +things under a certain form of eternity (sub quâdam æternitatis +specie). + Proof.-It is in the nature of reason to regard things, not as +contingent, but as necessary (II. xliv.). Reason perceives this +necessity of things (II. xli.) truly-that is (I. Ax. vi.), as it +is in itself. But (I. xvi.) this necessity of things is the very +necessity of the eternal nature of God ; therefore, it is in the +nature of reason to regard things under this form of eternity. +We may add that the bases of reason are the notions (II. +xxxviii.), which answer to things common to all, and which (II. +xxxvii.) do not answer to the essence of any particular thing : +which must therefore be conceived without any relation to time, +under a certain form of eternity. + +PROP. XLV. Every idea of every body, or of every particular +thing actually existing, necessarily involves the eternal and +infinite essence of God. + Proof.-The idea of a particular thing actually existing +necessarily involves both the existence and the essence of the +said thing (II. viii.). Now particular things cannot be +conceived without God (I. xv.) ; but, inasmuch as (II. vi.) they +have God for their cause, in so far as he is regarded under the +attribute of which the things in question are modes, their ideas +must necessarily involve (I. Ax. iv.) the conception of the +attributes of those ideas-that is (I. vi.), the eternal and +infinite essence of God. Q.E.D. + Note.-By existence I do not here mean duration-that is, +existence in so far as it is conceived abstractedly, and as a +certain form of quantity. I am speaking of the very nature of +existence, which is assigned to particular things, because they +follow in infinite numbers and in infinite ways from the eternal +necessity of God's nature (I. xvi.). I am speaking, I repeat, of +the very existence of particular things, in so far as they are in +God. For although each particular thing be conditioned by +another particular thing to exist in a given way, yet the force +whereby each particular thing perseveres in existing follows from +the eternal necessity of God's nature (cf. I. xxiv. Coroll.). + +PROP. XLVI. The knowledge of the eternal and infinite essence of +God which every idea involves is adequate and perfect. + Proof.-The proof of the last proposition is universal ; and +whether a thing be considered as a part or a whole, the idea +thereof, whether of the whole or of a part (by the last Prop.), +will involve God's eternal and infinite essence. Wherefore, +that, which gives knowledge of the eternal and infinite essence +of God, is common to all, and is equally in the part and in the +whole ; therefore (II. xxxviii.) this knowledge will be adequate. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLVII. The human mind has an adequate knowledge of the +eternal and infinite essence of God. + Proof.-The human mind has ideas (II. xxii.), from which (II. +xxiii.) it perceives itself and its own body (II. xix.) and +external bodies (II. xvi. Coroll. i. and II. xvii.) as actually +existing ; therefore (II. xlv. and xlvi.) it has an adequate +knowledge of the eternal and infinite essence of God. Q.E.D. + Note.-Hence we see, that the infinite essence and the +eternity of God are known to all. Now as all things are in God, +and are conceived through God, we can from this knowledge infer +many things, which we may adequately know, and we may form that +third kind of knowledge of which we spoke in the note to II. xl., +and of the excellence and use of which we shall have occasion to +speak in Part V. Men have not so clear a knowledge of God as +they have of general notions, because they are unable to imagine +God as they do bodies, and also because they have associated the +name God with images of things that they are in the habit of +seeing, as indeed they can hardly avoid doing, being, as they +are, men, and continually affected by external bodies. Many +errors, in truth, can be traced to this head, namely, that we do +not apply names to things rightly. For instance, when a man says +that the lines drawn from the centre of a circle to its +circumference are not equal, he then, at all events, assuredly +attaches a meaning to the word circle different from that +assigned by mathematicians. So again, when men make mistakes in +calculation, they have one set of figures in their mind, and +another on the paper. If we could see into their minds, they do +not make a mistake ; they seem to do so, because we think, that +they have the same numbers in their mind as they have on the +paper. If this were not so, we should not believe them to be in +error, any more than I thought that a man was in error, whom I +lately heard exclaiming that his entrance hall had flown into a +neighbour's hen, for his meaning seemed to me sufficiently clear. +Very many controversies have arisen from the fact, that men do +not rightly explain their meaning, or do not rightly interpret +the meaning of others. For, as a matter of fact, as they flatly +contradict themselves, they assume now one side, now another, of +the argument, so as to oppose the opinions, which they consider +mistaken and absurd in their opponents. + +PROP. XLVIII. In the mind there is no absolute or free will ; +but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which +has also been determined by another cause, and this last by +another cause, and so on to infinity. + Proof.-The mind is a fixed and definite mode of thought (II. +xi.), therefore it cannot be the free cause of its actions (I. +xvii. Coroll. ii.) ; in other words, it cannot have an absolute +faculty of positive or negative volition ; but (by I. xxviii.) it +must be determined by a cause, which has also been determined by +another cause, and this last by another, &c. Q.E.D. + Note.-In the same way it is proved, that there is in the mind +no absolute faculty of understanding, desiring, loving, &c. +Whence it follows, that these and similar faculties are either +entirely fictitious, or are merely abstract and general terms, +such as we are accustomed to put together from particular things. +Thus the intellect and the will stand in the same relation to +this or that idea, or this or that volition, as "lapidity" to +this or that stone, or as "man" to Peter and Paul. The cause +which leads men to consider themselves free has been set forth in +the Appendix to Part I. But, before I proceed further, I would +here remark that, by the will to affirm and decide, I mean the +faculty, not the desire. I mean, I repeat, the faculty, whereby +the mind affirms or denies what is true or false, not the desire, +wherewith the mind wishes for or turns away from any given thing. +After we have proved, that these faculties of ours are general +notions, which cannot be distinguished from the particular +instances on which they are based, we must inquire whether +volitions themselves are anything besides the ideas of things. +We must inquire, I say, whether there is in the mind any +affirmation or negation beyond that, which the idea, in so far as +it is an idea, involves. On which subject see the following +proposition, and II. Def. iii., lest the idea of pictures should +suggest itself. For by ideas I do not mean images such as are +formed at the back of the eye, or in the midst of the brain, but +the conceptions of thought. + +PROP. XLIX. There is in the mind no volition or affirmation and +negation, save that which an idea, inasmuch as it is an idea, +involves. + Proof.-There is in the mind no absolute faculty of positive +or negative volition, but only particular volitions, namely, this +or that affirmation, and this or that negation. Now let us +conceive a particular volition, namely, the mode of thinking +whereby the mind affirms, that the three interior angles of a +triangle are equal to two right angles. This affirmation +involves the conception or idea of a triangle, that is, without +the idea of a triangle it cannot be conceived. It is the same +thing to say, that the concept A must involve the concept B, as +it is to say, that A cannot be conceived without B. Further, +this affirmation cannot be made (II. Ax. iii.) without the idea +of a triangle. Therefore, this affirmation can neither be nor be +conceived, without the idea of a triangle. Again, this idea of a +triangle must involve this same affirmation, namely, that its +three interior angles are equal to two right angles. Wherefore, +and vice versâ, this idea of a triangle can neither be nor be +conceived without this affirmation, therefore, this affirmation +belongs to the essence of the idea of a triangle, and is nothing +besides. What we have said of this volition (inasmuch as we have +selected it at random) may be said of any other volition, namely, +that it is nothing but an idea. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Will and understanding are one and the same. + Proof.-Will and understanding are nothing beyond the +individual volitions and ideas (II. xlviii. and note). But a +particular volition and a particular idea are one and the same +(by the foregoing Prop.) ; therefore, will and understanding are +one and the same. Q.E.D. + Note.-We have thus removed the cause which is commonly +assigned for error. For we have shown above, that falsity +consists solely in the privation of knowledge involved in ideas +which are fragmentary and confused. Wherefore, a false idea, +inasmuch as it is false, does not involve certainty. When we +say, then, that a man acquiesces in what is false, and that he +has no doubts on the subject, we do not say that he is certain, +but only that he does not doubt, or that he acquiesces in what is +false, inasmuch as there are no reasons, which should cause his +imagination to waver (see II. xliv. note). Thus, although the +man be assumed to acquiesce in what is false, we shall never say +that he is certain. For by certainty we mean something positive +(II. xliii. and note), not merely the absence of doubt. + However, in order that the foregoing proposition may be fully +explained, I will draw attention to a few additional points, and +I will furthermore answer the objections which may be advanced +against our doctrine. Lastly, in order to remove every scruple, +I have thought it worth while to point out some of the +advantages, which follow therefrom. I say "some," for they will +be better appreciated from what we shall set forth in the fifth +part. + I begin, then, with the first point, and warn my readers to +make an accurate distinction between an idea, or conception of +the mind, and the images of things which we imagine. It is +further necessary that they should distinguish between idea and +words, whereby we signify things. These three-namely, images, +words, and ideas-are by many persons either entirely confused +together, or not distinguished with sufficient accuracy or care, +and hence people are generally in ignorance, how absolutely +necessary is a knowledge of this doctrine of the will, both for +philosophic purposes and for the wise ordering of life. Those +who think that ideas consist in images which are formed in us by +contact with external bodies, persuade themselves that the ideas +of those things, whereof we can form no mental picture, are not +ideas, but only figments, which we invent by the free decree of +our will ; they thus regard ideas as though they were inanimate +pictures on a panel, and, filled with this misconception, do not +see that an idea, inasmuch as it is an idea, involves an +affirmation or negation. Again, those who confuse words with +ideas, or with the affirmation which an idea involves, think that +they can wish something contrary to what they feel, affirm, or +deny. This misconception will easily be laid aside by one, who +reflects on the nature of knowledge, and seeing that it in no +wise involves the conception of extension, will therefore clearly +understand, that an idea (being a mode of thinking) does not +consist in the image of anything, nor in words. The essence of +words and images is put together by bodily motions, which in no +wise involve the conception of thought. + + These few words on this subject will suffice : I will +therefore pass on to consider the objections, which may be raised +against our doctrine. Of these, the first is advanced by those, +who think that the will has a wider scope than the understanding, +and that therefore it is different therefrom. The reason for +their holding the belief, that the will has wider scope than the +understanding, is that they assert, that they have no need of an +increase in their faculty of assent, that is of affirmation or +negation, in order to assent to an infinity of things which we do +not perceive, but that they have need of an increase in their +faculty of understanding. The will is thus distinguished from +the intellect, the latter being finite and the former infinite. +Secondly, it may be objected that experience seems to teach us +especially clearly, that we are able to suspend our judgment +before assenting to things which we perceive ; this is confirmed +by the fact that no one is said to be deceived, in so far as he +perceives anything, but only in so far as he assents or dissents. + For instance, he who feigns a winged horse, does not +therefore admit that a winged horse exists ; that is, he is not +deceived, unless he admits in addition that a winged horse does +exist. Nothing therefore seems to be taught more clearly by +experience, than that the will or faculty of assent is free and +different from the faculty of understanding. Thirdly, it may be +objected that one affirmation does not apparently contain more +reality than another ; in other words, that we do not seem to +need for affirming, that what is true is true, any greater power +than for affirming, that what is false is true. We have, +however, seen that one idea has more reality or perfection than +another, for as objects are some more excellent than others, so +also are the ideas of them some more excellent than others ; this +also seems to point to a difference between the understanding and +the will. Fourthly, it may be objected, if man does not act from +free will, what will happen if the incentives to action are +equally balanced, as in the case of Buridan's ass? Will he +perish of hunger and thirst? If I say that he would, I shall +seem to have in my thoughts an ass or the statue of a man rather +than an actual man. If I say that he would not, he would then +determine his own action, and would consequently possess the +faculty of going and doing whatever he liked. Other objections +might also be raised, but, as I am not bound to put in evidence +everything that anyone may dream, I will only set myself to the +task of refuting those I have mentioned, and that as briefly as +possible. + To the first objection I answer, that I admit that the will +has a wider scope than the understanding, if by the understanding +be meant only clear and distinct ideas ; but I deny that the will +has a wider scope than the perceptions, and the faculty of +forming conceptions ; nor do I see why the faculty of volition +should be called infinite, any more than the faculty of feeling : +for, as we are able by the same faculty of volition to affirm an +infinite number of things (one after the other, for we cannot +affirm an infinite number simultaneously), so also can we, by the +same faculty of feeling, feel or perceive (in succession) an +infinite number of bodies. If it be said that there is an +infinite number of things which we cannot perceive, I answer, +that we cannot attain to such things by any thinking, nor, +consequently, by any faculty of volition. But, it may still be +urged, if God wished to bring it about that we should perceive +them, he would be obliged to endow us with a greater faculty of +perception, but not a greater faculty of volition than we have +already. This is the same as to say that, if God wished to bring +it about that we should understand an infinite number of other +entities, it would be necessary for him to give us a greater +understanding, but not a more universal idea of entity than that +which we have already, in order to grasp such infinite entities. +We have shown that will is a universal entity or idea, whereby we +explain all particular volitions-in other words, that which is +common to all such volitions. + As, then, our opponents maintain that this idea, common or +universal to all volitions, is a faculty, it is little to be +wondered at that they assert, that such a faculty extends itself +into the infinite, beyond the limits of the understanding : for +what is universal is predicated alike of one, of many, and of an +infinite number of individuals. + To the second objection I reply by denying, that we have a +free power of suspending our judgment : for, when we say that +anyone suspends his judgment, we merely mean that he sees, that +he does not perceive the matter in question adequately. +Suspension of judgment is, therefore, strictly speaking, a +perception, and not free will. In order to illustrate the point, +let us suppose a boy imagining a horse, and perceive nothing +else. Inasmuch as this imagination involves the existence of the +horse (II. xvii. Coroll.), and the boy does not perceive anything +which would exclude the existence of the horse, he will +necessarily regard the horse as present : he will not be able to +doubt of its existence, although he be not certain thereof. We +have daily experience of such a state of things in dreams ; and I +do not suppose that there is anyone, who would maintain that, +while he is dreaming, he has the free power of suspending his +judgment concerning the things in his dream, and bringing it +about that he should not dream those things, which he dreams that +he sees ; yet it happens, notwithstanding, that even in dreams we +suspend our judgment, namely, when we dream that we are dreaming. + Further, I grant that no one can be deceived, so far as +actual perception extends-that is, I grant that the mind's +imaginations, regarded in themselves, do not involve error (II. +xvii. note) ; but I deny, that a man does not, in the act of +perception, make any affirmation. For what is the perception of +a winged horse, save affirming that a horse has wings? If the +mind could perceive nothing else but the winged horse, it would +regard the same as present to itself : it would have no reasons +for doubting its existence, nor any faculty of dissent, unless +the imagination of a winged horse be joined to an idea which +precludes the existence of the said horse, or unless the mind +perceives that the idea which it possess of a winged horse is +inadequate, in which case it will either necessarily deny the +existence of such a horse, or will necessarily be in doubt on the +subject. + I think that I have anticipated my answer to the third +objection, namely, that the will is something universal which is +predicated of all ideas, and that it only signifies that which is +common to all ideas, namely, an affirmation, whose adequate +essence must, therefore, in so far as it is thus conceived in the +abstract, be in every idea, and be, in this respect alone, the +same in all, not in so far as it is considered as constituting +the idea's essence : for, in this respect, particular +affirmations differ one from the other, as much as do ideas. For +instance, the affirmation which involves the idea of a circle, +differs from that which involves the idea of a triangle, as much +as the idea of a circle differs from the idea of a triangle. + Further, I absolutely deny, that we are in need of an equal +power of thinking, to affirm that that which is true is true, and +to affirm that that which is false is true. These two +affirmations, if we regard the mind, are in the same relation to +one another as being and not-being ; for there is nothing +positive in ideas, which constitutes the actual reality of +falsehood (II. xxxv. note, and xlvii. note). + We must therefore conclude, that we are easily deceived, when +we confuse universals with singulars, and the entities of reason +and abstractions with realities. As for the fourth objection, I +am quite ready to admit, that a man placed in the equilibrium +described (namely, as perceiving nothing but hunger and thirst, +a certain food and a certain drink, each equally distant from +him) would die of hunger and thirst. If I am asked, whether such +an one should not rather be considered an ass than a man ; I +answer, that I do not know, neither do I know how a man should be +considered, who hangs himself, or how we should consider +children, fools, madmen, &c. + It remains to point out the advantages of a knowledge of this +doctrine as bearing on conduct, and this may be easily gathered +from what has been said. The doctrine is good, + 1. Inasmuch as it teaches us to act solely according to the +decree of God, and to be partakers in the Divine nature, and so +much the more, as we perform more perfect actions and more and +more understand God. Such a doctrine not only completely +tranquilizes our spirit, but also shows us where our highest +happiness or blessedness is, namely, solely in the knowledge of +God, whereby we are led to act only as love and piety shall bid +us. We may thus clearly understand, how far astray from a true +estimate of virtue are those who expect to be decorated by God +with high rewards for their virtue, and their best actions, as +for having endured the direst slavery ; as if virtue and the +service of God were not in itself happiness and perfect freedom. + 2. Inasmuch as it teaches us, how we ought to conduct +ourselves with respect to the gifts of fortune, or matters which +are not in our power, and do not follow from our nature. For it +shows us, that we should await and endure fortune's smiles or +frowns with an equal mind, seeing that all things follow from the +eternal decree of God by the same necessity, as it follows from +the essence of a triangle, that the three angles are equal to two +right angles. + 3. This doctrine raises social life, inasmuch as it teaches +us to hate no man, neither to despise, to deride, to envy, or to +be angry with any. Further, as it tells us that each should be +content with his own, and helpful to his neighbour, not from any +womanish pity, favour, or superstition, but solely by the +guidance of reason, according as the time and occasion demand, as +I will show in Part III. + 4. Lastly, this doctrine confers no small advantage on the +commonwealth ; for it teaches how citizens should be governed and +led, not so as to become slaves, but so that they may freely do +whatsoever things are best. + I have thus fulfilled the promise made at the beginning of +this note, and I thus bring the second part of my treatise to a +close. I think I have therein explained the nature and +properties of the human mind at sufficient length, and, +considering the difficulty of the subject, with sufficient +clearness. I have laid a foundation, whereon may be raised many +excellent conclusions of the highest utility and most necessary +to be known, as will, in what follows, be partly made plain. + + + + +PART III. +ON THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF THE EMOTIONS + + + Most writers on the emotions and on human conduct seem to be +treating rather of matters outside nature than of natural +phenomena following nature's general laws. They appear to +conceive man to be situated in nature as a kingdom within a +kingdom : for they believe that he disturbs rather than follows +nature's order, that he has absolute control over his actions, +and that he is determined solely by himself. They attribute +human infirmities and fickleness, not to the power of nature in +general, but to some mysterious flaw in the nature of man, which +accordingly they bemoan, deride, despise, or, as usually happens, +abuse : he, who succeeds in hitting off the weakness of the human +mind more eloquently or more acutely than his fellows, is looked +upon as a seer. Still there has been no lack of very excellent +men (to whose toil and industry I confess myself much indebted), +who have written many noteworthy things concerning the right way +of life, and have given much sage advice to mankind. But no one, +so far as I know, has defined the nature and strength of the +emotions, and the power of the mind against them for their +restraint. + I do not forget, that the illustrious Descartes, though he +believed, that the mind has absolute power over its actions, +strove to explain human emotions by their primary causes, and, at +the same time, to point out a way, by which the mind might attain +to absolute dominion over them. However, in my opinion, he +accomplishes nothing beyond a display of the acuteness of his own +great intellect, as I will show in the proper place. For the +present I wish to revert to those, who would rather abuse or +deride human emotions than understand them. Such persons will, +doubtless think it strange that I should attempt to treat of +human vice and folly geometrically, and should wish to set forth +with rigid reasoning those matters which they cry out against as +repugnant to reason, frivolous, absurd, and dreadful. However, +such is my plan. Nothing comes to pass in nature, which can be +set down to a flaw therein ; for nature is always the same, and +everywhere one and the same in her efficacy and power of action ; +that is, nature's laws and ordinances, whereby all things come to +pass and change from one form to another, are everywhere and +always the same ; so that there should be one and the same method +of understanding the nature of all things whatsoever, namely, +through nature's universal laws and rules. Thus the passions of +hatred, anger, envy, and so on, considered in themselves, follow +from this same necessity and efficacy of nature ; they answer to +certain definite causes, through which they are understood, and +possess certain properties as worthy of being known as the +properties of anything else, whereof the contemplation in itself +affords us delight. I shall, therefore, treat of the nature and +strength of the emotions according to the same method, as I +employed heretofore in my investigations concerning God and the +mind. I shall consider human actions and desires in exactly the +same manner, as though I were concerned with lines, planes, and +solids. + + +DEFINITIONS + +I. By an adequate cause, I mean a cause through which its effect +can be clearly and distinctly perceived. By an inadequate or +partial cause, I mean a cause through which, by itself, its +effect cannot be understood. + +II. I say that we act when anything takes place, either within +us or externally to us, whereof we are the adequate cause ; that +is (by the foregoing definition) when through our nature +something takes place within us or externally to us, which can +through our nature alone be clearly and distinctly understood. +On the other hand, I say that we are passive as regards something +when that something takes place within us, or follows from our +nature externally, we being only the partial cause. + +III. By emotion I mean the modifications of the body, whereby +the active power of the said body is increased or diminished, +aided or constrained, and also the ideas of such modifications. + +N.B. If we can be the adequate cause of any of these +modifications, I then call the emotion an activity, otherwise I +call it a passion, or state wherein the mind is passive. + + +POSTULATES + +I. The human body can be affected in many ways, whereby its +power of activity is increased or diminished, and also in other +ways which do not render its power of activity either greater or +less. + N.B. This postulate or axiom rests on Postulate i. and +Lemmas v. and vii., which see after II. xiii. + +II. The human body can undergo many changes, and, nevertheless, +retain the impressions or traces of objects (cf. II. Post. v.), +and, consequently, the same images of things (see note II. +xvii.). + +PROP. I. Our mind is in certain cases active, and in certain +cases passive. In so far as it has adequate ideas it is +necessarily active, and in so far as it has inadequate ideas, it +is necessarily passive. + Proof.-In every human mind there are some adequate ideas, and +some ideas that are fragmentary and confused (II. xl. note). +Those ideas which are adequate in the mind are adequate also in +God, inasmuch as he constitutes the essence of the mind (II. xl. +Coroll.), and those which are inadequate in the mind are likewise +(by the same Coroll.) adequate in God, not inasmuch as he +contains in himself the essence of the given mind alone, but as +he, at the same time, contains the minds of other things. Again, +from any given idea some effect must necessarily follow (I. 36) ; +of this effect God is the adequate cause (III. Def. i.), not +inasmuch as he is infinite, but inasmuch as he is conceived as +affected by the given idea (II. ix.). But of that effect whereof +God is the cause, inasmuch as he is affected by an idea which is +adequate in a given mind, of that effect, I repeat, the mind in +question is the adequate cause (II. xi. Coroll.). Therefore our +mind, in so far as it has adequate ideas (III. Def. ii.), is in +certain cases necessarily active ; this was our first point. +Again, whatsoever necessarily follows from the idea which is +adequate in God, not by virtue of his possessing in himself the +mind of one man only, but by virtue of his containing, together +with the mind of that one man, the minds of other things also, of +such an effect (II. xi. Coroll.) the mind of the given man is not +an adequate, but only a partial cause ; thus (III. Def. ii.) the +mind, inasmuch as it has inadequate ideas, is in certain cases +necessarily passive ; this was our second point. Therefore our +mind, &c. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that the mind is more or less +liable to be acted upon, in proportion as it possesses inadequate +ideas, and, contrariwise, is more or less active in proportion as +it possesses adequate ideas. + +PROP. II. Body cannot determine mind to think, neither can mind +determine body to motion or rest or any state different from +these, if such there be. + Proof.-All modes of thinking have for their cause God, by +virtue of his being a thinking thing, and not by virtue of his +being displayed under any other attribute (II. vi.). That, +therefore, which determines the mind to thought is a mode of +thought, and not a mode of extension ; that is (II. Def. i.), it +is not body. This was our first point. Again, the motion and +rest of a body must arise from another body, which has also been +determined to a state of motion or rest by a third body, and +absolutely everything which takes place in a body must spring +from God, in so far as he is regarded as affected by some mode of +extension, and not by some mode of thought (II. vi.) ; that is, +it cannot spring from the mind, which is a mode of thought. This +was our second point. Therefore body cannot determine mind, &c. +Q.E.D. + Note.-This is made more clear by what was said in the note to +II. vii., namely, that mind and body are one and the same thing, +conceived first under the attribute of thought, secondly, under +the attribute of extension. Thus it follows that the order or +concatenation of things is identical, whether nature be conceived +under the one attribute or the other ; consequently the order of +states of activity and passivity in our body is simultaneous in +nature with the order of states of activity and passivity in the +mind. The same conclusion is evident from the manner in which we +proved II. xii. + Nevertheless, though such is the case, and though there be no +further room for doubt, I can scarcely believe, until the fact is +proved by experience, that men can be induced to consider the +question calmly and fairly, so firmly are they convinced that it +is merely at the bidding of the mind, that the body is set in +motion or at rest, or performs a variety of actions depending +solely on the mind's will or the exercise of thought. However, +no one has hitherto laid down the limits to the powers of the +body, that is, no one has as yet been taught by experience what +the body can accomplish solely by the laws of nature, in so far +as she is regarded as extension. No one hitherto has gained such +an accurate knowledge of the bodily mechanism, that he can +explain all its functions ; nor need I call attention to the fact +that many actions are observed in the lower animals, which far +transcend human sagacity, and that somnambulists do many things +in their sleep, which they would not venture to do when awake : +these instances are enough to show, that the body can by the sole +laws of its nature do many things which the mind wonders at. + Again, no one knows how or by what means the mind moves the +body, nor how many various degrees of motion it can impart to the +body, nor how quickly it can move it. Thus, when men say that +this or that physical action has its origin in the mind, which +latter has dominion over the body, they are using words without +meaning, or are confessing in specious phraseology that they are +ignorant of the cause of the said action, and do not wonder at +it. + But, they will say, whether we know or do not know the means +whereby the mind acts on the body, we have, at any rate, +experience of the fact that unless the human mind is in a fit +state to think, the body remains inert. Moreover, we have +experience, that the mind alone can determine whether we speak or +are silent, and a variety of similar states which, accordingly, +we say depend on the mind's decree. But, as to the first point, +I ask such objectors, whether experience does not also teach, +that if the body be inactive the mind is simultaneously unfitted +for thinking? For when the body is at rest in sleep, the mind +simultaneously is in a state of torpor also, and has no power of +thinking, such as it possesses when the body is awake. Again, I +think everyone's experience will confirm the statement, that the +mind is not at all times equally fit for thinking on a given +subject, but according as the body is more or less fitted for +being stimulated by the image of this or that object, so also is +the mind more or less fitted for contemplating the said object. + But, it will be urged, it is impossible that solely from the +laws of nature considered as extended substance, we should be +able to deduce the causes of buildings, pictures, and things of +that kind, which are produced only by human art ; nor would the +human body, unless it were determined and led by the mind, be +capable of building a single temple. However, I have just +pointed out that the objectors cannot fix the limits of the +body's power, or say what can be concluded from a consideration +of its sole nature, whereas they have experience of many things +being accomplished solely by the laws of nature, which they would +never have believed possible except under the direction of mind : +such are the actions performed by somnambulists while asleep, and +wondered at by their performers when awake. I would further call +attention to the mechanism of the human body, which far surpasses +in complexity all that has been put together by human art, not to +repeat what I have already shown, namely, that from nature, under +whatever attribute she be considered, infinite results follow. +As for the second objection, I submit that the world would be +much happier, if men were as fully able to keep silence as they +are to speak. Experience abundantly shows that men can govern +anything more easily than their tongues, and restrain anything +more easily than their appetites ; when it comes about that many +believe, that we are only free in respect to objects which we +moderately desire, because our desire for such can easily be +controlled by the thought of something else frequently +remembered, but that we are by no means free in respect to what +we seek with violent emotion, for our desire cannot then be +allayed with the remembrance of anything else. However, unless +such persons had proved by experience that we do many things +which we afterwards repent of, and again that we often, when +assailed by contrary emotions, see the better and follow the +worse, there would be nothing to prevent their believing that we +are free in all things. Thus an infant believes that of its own +free will it desires milk, an angry child believes that it freely +desires vengeance, a timid child believes that it freely desires +to run away ; further, a drunken man believes that he utters from +the free decision of his mind words which, when he is sober, he +would willingly have withheld : thus, too, a delirious man, a +garrulous woman, a child, and others of like complexion, believe +that they speak from the free decision of their mind, when they +are in reality unable to restrain their impulse to talk. +Experience teaches us no less clearly than reason, that men +believe themselves to be free, simply because they are conscious +of their actions, and unconscious of the causes whereby those +actions are determined ; and, further, it is plain that the +dictates of the mind are but another name for the appetites, and +therefore vary according to the varying state of the body. +Everyone shapes his actions according to his emotion, those who +are assailed by conflicting emotions know not what they wish ; +those who are not attacked by any emotion are readily swayed this +way or that. All these considerations clearly show that a mental +decision and a bodily appetite, or determined state, are +simultaneous, or rather are one and the same thing, which we call +decision, when it is regarded under and explained through the +attribute of thought, and a conditioned state, when it is +regarded under the attribute of extension, and deduced from the +laws of motion and rest. This will appear yet more plainly in +the sequel. For the present I wish to call attention to another +point, namely, that we cannot act by the decision of the mind, +unless we have a remembrance of having done so. For instance, we +cannot say a word without remembering that we have done so. +Again, it is not within the free power of the mind to remember or +forget a thing at will. Therefore the freedom of the mind must +in any case be limited to the power of uttering or not uttering +something which it remembers. But when we dream that we speak, +we believe that we speak from a free decision of the mind, yet we +do not speak, or, if we do, it is by a spontaneous motion of the +body. Again, we dream that we are concealing something, and we +seem to act from the same decision of the mind as that, whereby +we keep silence when awake concerning something we know. Lastly, +we dream that from the free decision of our mind we do something, +which we should not dare to do when awake. + Now I should like to know whether there be in the mind two +sorts of decisions, one sort illusive, and the other sort free? +If our folly does not carry us so far as this, we must +necessarily admit, that the decision of the mind, which is +believed to be free, is not distinguishable from the imagination +or memory, and is nothing more than the affirmation, which an +idea, by virtue of being an idea, necessarily involves (II. +xlix.). Wherefore these decisions of the mind arise in the mind +by the same necessity, as the ideas of things actually existing. +Therefore those who believe, that they speak or keep silence or +act in any way from the free decision of their mind, do but dream +with their eyes open. + +PROP. III. The activities of the mind arise solely from adequate +ideas ; the passive states of the mind depend solely on +inadequate ideas. + Proof.-The first element, which constitutes the essence of +the mind, is nothing else but the idea of the actually existent +body (II. xi. and xiii.), which (II. xv.) is compounded of many +other ideas, whereof some are adequate and some inadequate (II. +xxix. Coroll., II. xxxviii. Coroll.). Whatsoever therefore +follows from the nature of mind, and has mind for its proximate +cause, through which it must be understood, must necessarily +follow either from an adequate or from an inadequate idea. But +in so far as the mind (III. i.) has inadequate ideas, it is +necessarily passive : wherefore the activities of the mind follow +solely from adequate ideas, and accordingly the mind is only +passive in so far as it has inadequate ideas. Q.E.D. + Note.-Thus we see, that passive states are not attributed to +the mind, except in so far as it contains something involving +negation, or in so far as it is regarded as a part of nature, +which cannot be clearly and distinctly perceived through itself +without other parts : I could thus show, that passive states are +attributed to individual things in the same way that they are +attributed to the mind, and that they cannot otherwise be +perceived, but my purpose is solely to treat of the human mind. + +PROP. IV. Nothing can be destroyed, except by a cause external +to itself. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident, for the definition +of anything affirms the essence of that thing, but does not +negative it ; in other words, it postulates the essence of the +thing, but does not take it away. So long therefore as we regard +only the thing itself, without taking into account external +causes, we shall not be able to find in it anything which could +destroy it. Q.E.D. + +PROP. V. Things are naturally contrary, that is, cannot exist in +the same object, in so far as one is capable of destroying the +other. + Proof.-If they could agree together or co-exist in the same +object, there would then be in the said object something which +could destroy it ; but this, by the foregoing proposition, is +absurd, therefore things, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VI. Everything, in so far as it is in itself, endeavours +to persist in its own being. + Proof.-Individual things are modes whereby the attributes of +God are expressed in a given determinate manner (I. xxv. Coroll.) +; that is, (I. xxxiv.), they are things which express in a given +determinate manner the power of God, whereby God is and acts ; +now no thing contains in itself anything whereby it can be +destroyed, or which can take away its existence (III. iv.) ; but +contrariwise it is opposed to all that could take away its +existence (III. v.). Therefore, in so far as it can, and in so +far as it is in itself, it endeavours to persist in its own +being. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VII. The endeavour, wherewith everything endeavours to +persist in its own being, is nothing else but the actual essence +of the thing in question. + Proof.-From the given essence of any thing certain +consequences necessarily follow (I. xxxvi.), nor have things any +power save such as necessarily follows from their nature as +determined (I. xxix.) ; wherefore the power of any given thing, +or the endeavour whereby, either alone or with other things, it +acts, or endeavours to act, that is (III. vi.), the power or +endeavour, wherewith it endeavours to persist in its own being, +is nothing else but the given or actual essence of the thing in +question. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VIII. The endeavour, whereby a thing endeavours to persist +in its own being, involves no finite time, but an indefinite +time. + Proof.-If it involved a limited time, which should determine +the duration of the thing, it would then follow solely from that +power whereby the thing exists, that the thing could not exist +beyond the limits of that time, but that it must be destroyed ; +but this (III. iv.) is absurd. Wherefore the endeavour wherewith +a thing exists involves no definite time ; but, contrariwise, +since (III. iv.) it will by the same power whereby it already +exists always continue to exist, unless it be destroyed by some +external cause, this endeavour involves an indefinite time. + +PROP. IX. The mind, both in so far as it has clear and distinct +ideas, and also in so far as it has confused ideas, endeavours to +persist in its being for an indefinite period, and of this +endeavour it is conscious. + Proof.-The essence of the mind is constituted by adequate and +inadequate ideas (III. iii.), therefore (III. vii.), both in so +far as it possesses the former, and in so far as it possesses the +latter, it endeavours to persist in its own being, and that for +an indefinite time (III. viii.). Now as the mind (II. xxiii.) is +necessarily conscious of itself through the ideas of the +modifications of the body, the mind is therefore (III. vii.) +conscious of its own endeavour. + Note.-This endeavour, when referred solely to the mind, is +called will, when referred to the mind and body in conjunction it +is called appetite ; it is, in fact, nothing else but man's +essence, from the nature of which necessarily follow all those +results which tend to its preservation ; and which man has thus +been determined to perform. + Further, between appetite and desire there is no difference, +except that the term desire is generally applied to men, in so +far as they are conscious of their appetite, and may accordingly +be thus defined : Desire is appetite with consciousness thereof. +It is thus plain from what has been said, that in no case do we +strive for, wish for, long for, or desire anything, because we +deem it to be good, but on the other hand we deem a thing to be +good, because we strive for it, wish for it, long for it, or +desire it. + +PROP. X. An idea, which excludes the existence of our body, +cannot be postulated in our mind, but is contrary thereto. + Proof.-Whatsoever can destroy our body, cannot be postulated +therein (III. v.). Therefore neither can the idea of such a +thing occur in God, in so far as he has the idea of our body (II. +ix. Coroll.) ; that is (II.xi., xiii.), the idea of that thing +cannot be postulated as in our mind, but contrariwise, since (II. +xi., xiii.) the first element, that constitutes the essence of +the mind, is the idea of the human body as actually existing, it +follows that the first and chief endeavour of our mind is the +endeavour to affirm the existence of our body : thus, an idea, +which negatives the existence of our body, is contrary to our +mind, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XI. Whatsoever increases or diminishes, helps or hinders +the power of activity in our body, the idea thereof increases or +diminishes, helps or hinders the power of thought in our mind. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from II. vii. or from II. +xiv. + Note.-Thus we see, that the mind can undergo many changes, +and can pass sometimes to a state of greater perfection, +sometimes to a state of lesser perfection. These passive states +of transition explain to us the emotions of pleasure and pain. +By pleasure therefore in the following propositions I shall +signify a passive state wherein the mind passes to a greater +perfection. By pain I shall signify a passive state wherein the +mind passes to a lesser perfection. Further, the emotion of +pleasure in reference to the body and mind together I shall call +stimulation (titillatio) or merriment (hilaritas), the emotion of +pain in the same relation I shall call suffering or melancholy. +But we must bear in mind, that stimulation and suffering are +attributed to man, when one part of his nature is more affected +than the rest, merriment and melancholy, when all parts are alike +affected. What I mean by desire I have explained in the note to +Prop. ix. of this part ; beyond these three I recognize no other +primary emotion ; I will show as I proceed, that all other +emotions arise from these three. But, before I go further, I +should like here to explain at greater length Prop. x of this +part, in order that we may clearly understand how one idea is +contrary to another. In the note to II. xvii. we showed that the +idea, which constitutes the essence of mind, involves the +existence of body, so long as the body itself exists. Again, it +follows from what we pointed out in the Corollary to II. viii., +that the present existence of our mind depends solely on the +fact, that the mind involves the actual existence of the body. +Lastly, we showed (II. xvii., xviii. and note) that the power of +the mind, whereby it imagines and remembers things, also depends +on the fact, that it involves the actual existence of the body. +Whence it follows, that the present existence of the mind and its +power of imagining are removed, as soon as the mind ceases to +affirm the present existence of the body. Now the cause, why the +mind ceases to affirm this existence of the body, cannot be the +mind itself (III. iv.), nor again the fact that the body ceases +to exist. For (by II. vi.) the cause, why the mind affirms the +existence of the body, is not that the body began to exist ; +therefore, for the same reason, it does not cease to affirm the +existence of the body, because the body ceases to exist ; but +(II. xvii.) this result follows from another idea, which excludes +the present existence of our body and, consequently, of our mind, +and which is therefore contrary to the idea constituting the +essence of our mind. + +PROP. XII. The mind, as far as it can, endeavours to conceive +those things, which increase or help the power of activity in the +body. + Proof.-So long as the human body is affected in a mode, which +involves the nature of any external body, the human mind will +regard that external body as present (II. xvii.), and +consequently (II. vii.), so long as the human mind regards an +external body as present, that is (II. xvii. note), conceives it, +the human body is affected in a mode, which involves the nature +of the said external body ; thus so long as the mind conceives +things, which increase or help the power of activity in our body, +the body is affected in modes which increase or help its power of +activity (III. Post. i.) ; consequently (III. xi.) the mind's +power of thinking is for that period increased or helped. Thus +(III. vi., ix.) the mind, as far as it can, endeavours to imagine +such things. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIII. When the mind conceives things which diminish or +hinder the body's power of activity, it endeavours, as far as +possible, to remember things which exclude the existence of the +first-named things. + Proof.-So long as the mind conceives anything of the kind +alluded to, the power of the mind and body is diminished or +constrained (cf. III. xii. Proof) ; nevertheless it will continue +to conceive it, until the mind conceives something else, which +excludes the present existence thereof (II. xvii.) ; that is (as +I have just shown), the power of the mind and of the body is +diminished, or constrained, until the mind conceives something +else, which excludes the existence of the former thing conceived +: therefore the mind (III. ix.), as far as it can, will endeavour +to conceive or remember the latter. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that the mind shrinks from +conceiving those things, which diminish or constrain the power of +itself and of the body. + Note.-From what has been said we may clearly understand the +nature of Love and Hate. Love is nothing else but pleasure +accompanied by the idea of an external cause : Hate is nothing +else but pain accompanied by the idea of an external cause. We +further see, that he who loves necessarily endeavours to have, +and to keep present to him, the object of his love ; while he who +hates endeavours to remove and destroy the object of his hatred. +But I will treat of these matters at more length hereafter. + +PROP. XIV. If the mind has once been affected by two emotions at +the same time, it will, whenever it is afterwards affected by one +of these two, be also affected by the other. + Proof.-If the human body has once been affected by two bodies +at once, whenever afterwards the mind conceives one of them, it +will straightway remember the other also (II. xviii.). But the +mind's conceptions indicate rather the emotions of our body than +the nature of external bodies (II. xvi. Coroll. ii.) ; therefore, +if the body, and consequently the mind (III. Def. iii.) has been +once affected by two emotions at the same time, it will, whenever +it is afterwards affected by one of the two, be also affected by +the other. + +PROP. XV. Anything can, accidentally, be the cause of pleasure, +pain, or desire. + Proof.-Let it be granted that the mind is simultaneously +affected by two emotions, of which one neither increases nor +diminishes its power of activity, and the other does either +increase or diminish the said power (III. Post. i.). From the +foregoing proposition it is evident that, whenever the mind is +afterwards affected by the former, through its true cause, which +(by hypothesis) neither increases nor diminishes its power of +action, it will be at the same time affected by the latter, which +does increase or diminish its power of activity, that is (III. +xi. note) it will be affected with pleasure or pain. Thus the +former of the two emotions will, not through itself, but +accidentally, be the cause of pleasure or pain. In the same way +also it can be easily shown, that a thing may be accidentally the +cause of desire. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Simply from the fact that we have regarded a thing +with the emotion of pleasure or pain, though that thing be not +the efficient cause of the emotion, we can either love or hate +it. + Proof.-For from this fact alone it arises (III. xiv.), that +the mind afterwards conceiving the said thing is affected with +the emotion of pleasure or pain, that is (III. xi. note), +according as the power of the mind and body may be increased or +diminished, &c. ; and consequently (III. xii.), according as the +mind may desire or shrink from the conception of it (III. xiii. +Coroll.), in other words (III. xiii. note), according as it may +love or hate the same. Q.E.D. + Note.-Hence we understand how it may happen, that we love or +hate a thing without any cause for our emotion being known to us +; merely, as a phrase is, from sympathy or antipathy. We should +refer to the same category those objects, which affect us +pleasurably or painfully, simply because they resemble other +objects which affect us in the same way. This I will show in the +next Prop. I am aware that certain authors, who were the first +to introduce these terms "sympathy" and "antipathy," wished to +signify thereby some occult qualities in things ; nevertheless I +think we may be permitted to use the same terms to indicate known +or manifest qualities. + +PROP. XVI. Simply from the fact that we conceive, that a given +object has some point of resemblance with another object which is +wont to affect the mind pleasurably or painfully, although the +point of resemblance be not the efficient cause of the said +emotions, we shall still regard the first-named object with love +or hate. + Proof.-The point of resemblance was in the object (by +hypothesis), when we regarded it with pleasure or pain, thus +(III. xiv.), when the mind is affected by the image thereof, it +will straightway be affected by one or the other emotion, and +consequently the thing, which we perceive to have the same point +of resemblance, will be accidentally (III. xv.) a cause of +pleasure or pain. Thus (by the foregoing Corollary), although +the point in which the two objects resemble one another be not +the efficient cause of the emotion, we shall still regard the +first-named object with love or hate. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVII. If we conceive that a thing, which is wont to affect +us painfully, has any point of resemblance with another thing +which is wont to affect us with an equally strong emotion of +pleasure, we shall hate the first-named thing, and at the same +time we shall love it. + Proof.-The given thing is (by hypothesis) in itself a cause +of pain, and (III. xiii. note), in so far as we imagine it with +this emotion, we shall hate it : further, inasmuch as we conceive +that it has some point of resemblance to something else, which is +wont to affect us with an equally strong emotion of pleasure, we +shall with an equally strong impulse of pleasure love it +(III.xvi.) ; thus we shall both hate and love the same thing. +Q.E.D. + Note.-This disposition of the mind, which arises from two +contrary emotions, is called vacillation ; it stands to the +emotions in the same relation as doubt does to the imagination +(II. xliv. note) ; vacillation and doubt do not differ one from +the other, except as greater differs from less. But we must bear +in mind that I have deduced this vacillation from causes, which +give rise through themselves to one of the emotions, and to the +other accidentally. I have done this, in order that they might +be more easily deduced from what went before ; but I do not deny +that vacillation of the disposition generally arises from an +object, which is the efficient cause of both emotions. The human +body is composed (II. Post. i.) of a variety of individual parts +of different nature, and may therefore (Ax.i. after Lemma iii. +after II. xiii.) be affected in a variety of different ways by +one and the same body ; and contrariwise, as one and the same +thing can be affected in many ways, it can also in many different +ways affect one and the same part of the body. Hence we can +easily conceive, that one and the same object may be the cause of +many and conflicting emotions. + +PROP. XVIII. A man is as much affected pleasurably or painfully +by the image of a thing past or future as by the image of a thing +present. + Proof.-So long as a man is affected by the image of anything, +he will regard that thing as present, even though it be +non-existent (II. xvii. and Coroll.), he will not conceive it as +past or future, except in so far as its image is joined to the +image of time past or future (II. xliv. note). Wherefore the +image of a thing, regarded in itself alone, is identical, whether +it be referred to time past, time future, or time present ; that +is (II. xvi. Coroll.), the disposition or emotion of the body is +identical, whether the image be of a thing past, future, or +present. Thus the emotion of pleasure or pain is the ssame, +whether the image be of a thing past or future. Q.E.D. + Note I.-I call a thing past or future, according as we either +have been or shall be affected thereby. For instance, according +as we have seen it, or are about to see it, according as it has +recreated us, or will recreate us, according as it has harmed us, +or will harm us. For, as we thus conceive it, we affirm its +existence ; that is, the body is affected by no emotion which +excludes the existence of the thing, and therefore (II. xvii.) +the body is affected by the image of the thing, in the same way +as if the thing were actually present. However, as it generally +happens that those, who have had many experiences, vacillate, so +long as they regard a thing as future or past, and are usually in +doubt about its issue (II. xliv. note) ; it follows that the +emotions which arise from similar images of things are not so +constant, but are generally disturbed by the images of other +things, until men become assured of the issue. + Note II.-From what has just been said, we understand what is +meant by the terms Hope, Fear, Confidence, Despair, Joy, and +Disappointment.5 Hope is nothing else but an inconstant +pleasure, arising from the image of something future or past, +whereof we do not yet know the issue. Fear, on the other hand, +is an inconstant pain also arising from the image of something +concerning which we are in doubt. If the element of doubt be +removed from these emotions, hope becomes Confidence and fear +becomes Despair. In other words, Pleasure or Pain arising from +the image of something concerning which we have hoped or feared. +Again, Joy is Pleasure arising from the image of something past +whereof we have doubted the issue. Disappointment is the Pain +opposed to Joy. + +PROP. XIX. He who conceives that the object of his love is +destroyed will feel pain ; if he conceives that it is preserved +he will feel pleasure. + Proof.-The mind, as far as possible, endeavours to conceive +those things which increase or help the body's power of activity +(III. xii.) ; in other words (III. xii. note), those things which +it loves. But conception is helped by those things which +postulate the existence of a thing, and contrariwise is hindered +by those which exclude the existence of a thing (II. xvii.) ; +therefore the images of things, which postulate the existence of +an object of love, help the mind's endeavour to conceive the +object of love, in other words (III. xi. note), affect the mind +pleasurably ; contrariwise those things, which exclude the +existence of an object of love, hinder the aforesaid mental +endeavour ; in other words, affect the mind painfully. He, +therefore, who conceives that the object of his love is destroyed +will feel pain, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XX. He who conceives that the object of his hate is +destroyed will also feel pleasure. + Proof.-The mind (III. xiii.) endeavours to conceive those +things, which exclude the existence of things whereby the body's +power of activity is diminished or constrained ; that is (III. +xiii. note), it endeavours to conceive such things as exclude the +existence of what it hates ; therefore the image of a thing, +which excludes the existence of what the mind hates, helps the +aforesaid mental effort, in other words (III. xi. note), affects +the mind pleasurably. Thus he who conceives that the object of +his hate is destroyed will feel pleasure. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXI. He who conceives, that the object of his love is +affected pleasurably or painfully, will himself be affected +pleasurably or painfully ; and the one or the other emotion will +be greater or less in the lover according as it is greater or +less in the thing loved. + Proof.-The images of things (as we showed in III. xix.) which +postulate the existence of the object of love, help the mind's +endeavour to conceive the said object. But pleasure postulates +the existence of something feeling pleasure, so much the more in +proportion as the emotion of pleasure is greater ; for it is +(III. xi. note) a transition to a greater perfection ; therefore +the image of pleasure in the object of love helps the mental +endeavour of the lover ; that is, it affects the lover +pleasurably, and so much the more, in proportion as this emotion +may have been greater in the object of love. This was our first +point. Further, in so far as a thing is affected with pain, it +is to that extent destroyed, the extent being in proportion to +the amount of pain (III. xi. note) ; therefore (III. xix.) he who +conceives, that the object of his love is affected painfully, +will himself be affected painfully, in proportion as the said +emotion is greater or less in the object of love. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXII. If we conceive that anything pleasurably affects +some object of our love, we shall be affected with love towards +that thing. Contrariwise, if we conceive that it affects an +object of our love painfully, we shall be affected with hatred +towards it. + Proof.-He, who affects pleasurably or painfully the object of +our love, affects us also pleasurably or painfully-that is, if we +conceive the loved object as affected with the said pleasure or +pain (III. xxi.). But this pleasure or pain is postulated to come +to us accompanied by the idea of an external cause ; therefore +(III. xiii. note), if we conceive that anyone affects an object +of our love pleasurably or painfully, we shall be affected with +love or hatred towards him. Q.E.D. + Note.-Prop. xxi. explains to us the nature of Pity, which we +may define as pain arising from another's hurt. What term we can +use for pleasure arising from another's gain, I know not. + We will call the love towards him who confers a benefit on +another, Approval ; and the hatred towards him who injures +another, we will call Indignation. We must further remark, that +we not only feel pity for a thing which we have loved (as shown +in III. xxi.), but also for a thing which we have hitherto +regarded without emotion, provided that we deem that it resembles +ourselves (as I will show presently). Thus, we bestow approval +on one who has benefited anything resembling ourselves, and, +contrariwise, are indignant with him who has done it an injury. + +PROP. XXIII. He who conceives, that an object of his hatred is +painfully affected, will feel pleasure. Contrariwise, if he +thinks that the said object is pleasurably affected, he will feel +pain. Each of these emotions will be greater or less, according +as its contrary is greater or less in the object of hatred. + Proof.-In so far as an object of hatred is painfully +affected, it is destroyed, to an extent proportioned to the +strength of the pain (III. xi. note). Therefore, he (III. xx.) +who conceives, that some object of his hatred is painfully +affected, will feel pleasure, to an extent proportioned to the +amount of pain he conceives in the object of his hatred. This +was our first point. Again, pleasure postulates the existence of +the pleasurably affected thing (III. xi. note), in proportion as +the pleasure is greater or less. If anyone imagines that an +object of his hatred is pleasurably affected, this conception +(III. xiii.) will hinder his own endeavour to persist ; in other +words (III. xi. note), he who hates will be painfully affected. +Q.E.D. + Note.-This pleasure can scarcely be felt unalloyed, and +without any mental conflict. For (as I am about to show in Prop. +xxvii.), in so far as a man conceives that something similar to +himself is affected by pain, he will himself be affected in like +manner ; and he will have the contrary emotion in contrary +circumstances. But here we are regarding hatred only. + +PROP. XXIV. If we conceive that anyone pleasurably affects an +object of our hate, we shall feel hatred towards him also. If we +conceive that he painfully affects that said object, we shall +feel love towards him. + Proof.-This proposition is proved in the same way as III. +xxii., which see. + Note.-These and similar emotions of hatred are attributable +to envy, which, accordingly, is nothing else but hatred, in so +far as it is regarded as disposing a man to rejoice in another's +hurt, and to grieve at another's advantage. + +PROP. XXV. We endeavour to affirm, concerning ourselves, and +concerning what we love, everything that we can conceive to +affect pleasurably ourselves, or the loved object. Contrariwise, +we endeavour to negative everything, which we conceive to affect +painfully ourselves or the loved object. + Proof.-That, which we conceive to affect an object of our +love pleasurably or painfully, affects us also pleasurably or +painfully (III. xxi.). But the mind (III. xii.) endeavours, as +far as possible, to conceive those things which affect us +pleasurably ; in other words (II. xvii. and Coroll.), it +endeavours to regard them as present. And, contrariwise (III. +xiii.), it endeavours to exclude the existence of such things as +affect us painfully ; therefore, we endeavour to affirm +concerning ourselves, and concerning the loved object, whatever +we conceive to affect ourselves, or the love object pleasurably. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVI. We endeavour to affirm, concerning that which we +hate, everything which we conceive to affect it painfully ; and, +contrariwise, we endeavour to deny, concerning it, everything +which we conceive to affect it pleasurably. + Proof.-This proposition follows from III. xxiii., as the +foregoing proposition followed from III. xxi. + Note.-Thus we see that it may readily happen, that a man may +easily think too highly of himself, or a loved object, and, +contrariwise, too meanly of a hated object. This feeling is +called pride, in reference to the man who thinks too highly of +himself, and is a species of madness, wherein a man dreams with +his eyes open, thinking that he can accomplish all things that +fall within the scope of his conception, and thereupon accounting +them real, and exulting in them, so long as he is unable to +conceive anything which excludes their existence, and determines +his own power of action. Pride, therefore, is pleasure springing +from a man thinking too highly of himself. Again, the pleasure +which arises from a man thinking too highly of another is called +over-esteem. Whereas the pleasure which arises from thinking too +little of a man is called disdain. + +PROP. XXVII. By the very fact that we conceive a thing, which is +like ourselves, and which we have not regarded with any emotion, +to be affected with any emotion, we are ourselves affected with a +like emotion (affectus). + Proof.-The images of things are modifications of the human +body, whereof the ideas represent external bodies as present to +us (II. xvii.) ; in other words (II. x.), whereof the ideas +involve the nature of our body, and, at the same time, the nature +of the external bodies as present. If, therefore, the nature of +the external body be similar to the nature of our body, then the +idea which we form of the external body will involve a +modification of our own body similar to the modification of the +external body. Consequently, if we conceive anyone similar to +ourselves as affected by any emotion, this conception will +express a modification of our body similar to that emotion. +Thus, from the fact of conceiving a thing like ourselves to be +affected with any emotion, we are ourselves affected with a like +emotion. If, however, we hate the said thing like ourselves, we +shall, to that extent, be affected by a contrary, and not +similar, emotion. Q.E.D. + Note I.-This imitation of emotions, when it is referred to +pain, is called compassion (cf. III. xxii. note) ; when it is +referred to desire, it is called emulation, which is nothing else +but the desire of anything, engendered in us by the fact that we +conceive that others have the like desire. + Corollary I.-If we conceive that anyone, whom we have +hitherto regarded with no emotion, pleasurably affects something +similar to ourselves, we shall be affected with love towards him. +If, on the other hand, we conceive that he painfully affects the +same, we shall be affected with hatred towards him. + Proof.-This is proved from the last proposition in the same +manner as III. xxii. is proved from III. xxi. + Corollary II.-We cannot hate a thing which we pity, because +its misery affects us painfully. + Proof.-If we could hate it for this reason, we should rejoice +in its pain, which is contrary to the hypothesis. + Corollary III.-We seek to free from misery, as far as we can, +a thing which we pity. + Proof.-That, which painfully affects the object of our pity, +affects us also with similar pain (by the foregoing proposition) +; therefore, we shall endeavour to recall everything which +removes its existence, or which destroys it (cf. III. xiii.) ; in +other words (III. ix. note), we shall desire to destroy it, or we +shall be determined for its destruction ; thus, we shall +endeavour to free from misery a thing which we pity. Q.E.D. + Note II.-This will or appetite for doing good, which arises +from pity of the thing whereon we would confer a benefit, is +called benevolence, and is nothing else but desire arising from +compassion. Concerning love or hate towards him who has done +good or harm to something, which we conceive to be like +ourselves, see III. xxii. note. + +PROP. XXVIII. We endeavour to bring about whatsoever we conceive +to conduce to pleasure ; but we endeavour to remove or destroy +whatsoever we conceive to be truly repugnant thereto, or to +conduce to pain. + Proof.-We endeavour, as far as possible, to conceive that +which we imagine to conduce to pleasure (III. xii.) ; in other +words (II. xvii.) we shall endeavour to conceive it as far as +possible as present or actually existing. But the endeavour of +the mind, or the mind's power of thought, is equal to, and +simultaneous with, the endeavour of the body, or the body's power +of action. (This is clear from II. vii. Coroll. and II. xi. +Coroll.). Therefore we make an absolute endeavour for its +existence, in other words (which by III. ix. note, come to the +same thing) we desire and strive for it ; this was our first +point. Again, if we conceive that something, which we believed +to be the cause of pain, that is (III. xiii. note), which we +hate, is destroyed, we shall rejoice (III. xx.). We shall, +therefore (by the first part of this proof), endeavour to destroy +the same, or (III. xiii.) to remove it from us, so that we may +not regard it as present ; this was our second point. Wherefore +whatsoever conduces to pleasure, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIX. We shall also endeavour to do whatsoever we conceive +men6 to regard with pleasure, and contrariwise we shall shrink +from doing that which we conceive men to shrink from. + Proof.-From the fact of imagining, that men love or hate +anything, we shall love or hate the same thing (III. xxvii.). +That is (III. xiii. note), from this mere fact we shall feel +pleasure or pain at the thing's presence. And so we shall +endeavour to do whatsoever we conceive men to love or regard with +pleasure, etc. Q.E.D. + Note.-This endeavour to do a thing or leave it undone, solely +in order to please men, we call ambition, especially when we so +eagerly endeavour to please the vulgar, that we do or omit +certain things to our own or another's hurt : in other cases it +is generally called kindliness. Furthermore I give the name of +praise to the pleasure, with which we conceive the action of +another, whereby he has endeavoured to please us ; but of blame +to the pain wherewith we feel aversion to his action. + +PROP. XXX. If anyone has done something which he conceives as +affecting other men pleasurably, he will be affected by pleasure, +accompanied by the idea of himself as cause ; in other words, he +will regard himself with pleasure. On the other hand, if he has +done anything which he conceives as affecting others painfully, +he will regard himself with pain. + Proof.-He who conceives, that he affects others with pleasure +or pain, will, by that very fact, himself be affected with +pleasure or pain (III. xxvii.), but, as a man (II. xix. and +xxiii.) is conscious of himself through the modifications whereby +he is determined to action, it follows that he who conceives, +that he affects others pleasurably, will be affected with +pleasure accompanied by the idea of himself as cause ; in other +words, he will regard himself with pleasure. And so mutatis +mutandis in the case of pain. Q.E.D. + Note.-As love (III. xiii.) is pleasure accompanied by the +idea of an external cause, and hatred is pain accompanied by the +idea of an external cause ; the pleasure and pain in question +will be a species of love and hatred. But, as the terms love and +hatred are used in reference to external objects, we will employ +other names for the emotions now under discussion : pleasure +accompanied by the idea of an external cause7 we will style +Honour, and the emotion contrary thereto we will style Shame : I +mean in such cases as where pleasure or pain arises from a man's +belief, that he is being praised or blamed : otherwise pleasure +accompanied by the idea of an external cause8 is called +self-complacency, and its contrary pain is called repentance. +Again, as it may happen (II. xvii. Coroll.) that the pleasure, +wherewith a man conceives that he affects others, may exist +solely in his own imagination, and as (III. xxv.) everyone +endeavours to conceive concerning himself that which he conceives +will affect him with pleasure, it may easily come to pass that a +vain man may be proud and may imagine that he is pleasing to all, +when in reality he may be an annoyance to all. + +PROP. XXXI. If we conceive that anyone loves, desires, or hates +anything which we ourselves love, desire, or hate, we shall +thereupon regard the thing in question with more steadfast love, +&c. On the contrary, if we think that anyone shrinks from +something that we love, we shall undergo vacillations of soul. + Proof.-From the mere fact of conceiving that anyone loves +anything we shall ourselves love that thing (III. xxvii.) : but +we are assumed to love it already ; there is, therefore, a new +cause of love, whereby our former emotion is fostered ; hence we +shall thereupon love it more steadfastly. Again, from the mere +fact of conceiving that anyone shrinks from anything, we shall +ourselves shrink from that thing (III. xxvii.). If we assume +that we at the same time love it, we shall then simultaneously +love it and shrink from it ; in other words, we shall be subject +to vacillation (III. xvii. note). Q.E.D. + Corollary.-From the foregoing, and also from III. xxviii. it +follows that everyone endeavours, as far as possible, to cause +others to love what he himself loves, and to hate what he himself +hates : as the poet says : "As lovers let us share every hope +and every fear : ironhearted were he who should love what the +other leaves."9 + Note.-This endeavour to bring it about, that our own likes +and dislikes should meet with universal approval, is really +ambition (see III. xxix. note) ; wherefore we see that everyone +by nature desires (appetere), that the rest of mankind should +live according to his own individual disposition : when such a +desire is equally present in all, everyone stands in everyone +else's way, and in wishing to be loved or praised by all, all +become mutually hateful. + +PROP. XXXII. If we conceive that anyone takes delight in +something, which only one person can possess, we shall endeavour +to bring it about that the man in question shall not gain +possession thereof. + Proof.-From the mere fact of our conceiving that another +person takes delight in a thing (III. xxvii. and Coroll.) we +shall ourselves love that thing and desire to take delight +therein. But we assumed that the pleasure in question would be +prevented by another's delight in its object ; we shall, +therefore, endeavour to prevent his possession thereof (III. +xxviii.). Q.E.D. + Note.-We thus see that man's nature is generally so +constituted, that he takes pity on those who fare ill, and envies +those who fare well with an amount of hatred proportioned to his +own love for the goods in their possession. Further, we see that +from the same property of human nature, whence it follows that +men are merciful, it follows also that they are envious and +ambitious. Lastly, if we make appeal to Experience, we shall +find that she entirely confirms what we have said ; more +especially if we turn our attention to the first years of our +life. We find that children, whose body is continually, as it +were, in equilibrium, laugh or cry simply because they see others +laughing or crying ; moreover, they desire forthwith to imitate +whatever they see others doing, and to possess themselves of +whatever they conceive as delighting others : inasmuch as the +images of things are, as we have said, modifications of the human +body, or modes wherein the human body is affected and disposed by +external causes to act in this or that manner. + +PROP. XXXIII. When we love a thing similar to ourselves we +endeavour, as far as we can, to bring about that it should love +us in return. + Proof.-That which we love we endeavour, as far as we can, to +conceive in preference to anything else (III. xii.). If the +thing be similar to ourselves, we shall endeavour to affect it +pleasurably in preference to anything else (III. xxix.). In +other words, we shall endeavour, as far as we can, to bring it +about, that the thing should be affected with pleasure +accompanied by the idea of ourselves, that is (III. xiii. note), +that it should love us in return. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIV. The greater the emotion with which we conceive a +loved object to be affected towards us, the greater will be our +complacency. + Proof.-We endeavour (III. xxxiii.), as far as we can, to +bring about, that what we love should love us in return : in +other words, that what we love should be affected with pleasure +accompanied by the idea of ourself as cause. Therefore, in +proportion as the loved object is more pleasurably affected +because of us, our endeavour will be assisted.-that is (III. xi. +and note) the greater will be our pleasure. But when we take +pleasure in the fact, that we pleasurably affect something +similar to ourselves, we regard ourselves with pleasure (III. 30) +; therefore the greater the emotion with which we conceive a +loved object to be affected, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXV. If anyone conceives, that an object of his love +joins itself to another with closer bonds of friendship than he +himself has attained to, he will be affected with hatred towards +the loved object and with envy towards his rival. + Proof.-In proportion as a man thinks, that a loved object is +well affected towards him, will be the strength of his +self-approval (by the last Prop.), that is (III. xxx. note), of +his pleasure ; he will, therefore (III. xxviii.), endeavour, as +far as he can, to imagine the loved object as most closely bound +to him : this endeavour or desire will be increased, if he thinks +that someone else has a similar desire (III. xxxi.). But this +endeavour or desire is assumed to be checked by the image of the +loved object in conjunction with the image of him whom the loved +object has joined to itself ; therefore (III. xi. note) he will +for that reason be affected with pain, accompanied by the idea of +the loved object as a cause in conjunction with the image of his +rival ; that is, he will be (III. xiii.) affected with hatred +towards the loved object and also towards his rival (III. xv. +Coroll.), which latter he will envy as enjoying the beloved +object. Q.E.D. + Note.-This hatred towards an object of love joined with envy +is called Jealousy, which accordingly is nothing else but a +wavering of the disposition arising from combined love and +hatred, accompanied by the idea of some rival who is envied. +Further, this hatred towards the object of love will be greater, +in proportion to the pleasure which the jealous man had been wont +to derive from the reciprocated love of the said object ; and +also in proportion to the feelings he had previously entertained +towards his rival. If he had hated him, he will forthwith hate +the object of his love, because he conceives it is pleasurably +affected by one whom he himself hates : and also because he is +compelled to associate the image of his loved one with the image +of him whom he hates. This condition generally comes into play +in the case of love for a woman : for he who thinks, that a woman +whom he loves prostitutes herself to another, will feel pain, not +only because his own desire is restrained, but also because, +being compelled to associate the image of her he loves with the +parts of shame and the excreta of another, he therefore shrinks +from her. + We must add, that a jealous man is not greeted by his beloved +with the same joyful countenance as before, and this also gives +him pain as a lover, as I will now show. + +PROP. XXXVI. He who remembers a thing, in which he has once +taken delight, desires to possess it under the same circumstances +as when he first took delight therein. + Proof.-Everything, which a man has seen in conjunction with +the object of his love, will be to him accidentally a cause of +pleasure (III. xv.) ; he will, therefore, desire to possess it, +in conjunction with that wherein he has taken delight ; in other +words, he will desire to possess the object of his love under the +same circumstances as when he first took delight therein. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-A lover will, therefore, feel pain if one of the +aforesaid attendant circumstances be missing. + Proof.-For, in so far as he finds some circumstance to be +missing, he conceives something which excludes its existence. As +he is assumed to be desirous for love's sake of that thing or +circumstance (by the last Prop.), he will, in so far as he +conceives it to be missing, feel pain (III. xix.). Q.E.D. + Note.-This pain, in so far as it has reference to the absence +of the object of love, is called Regret. + +PROP. XXXVII. Desire arising through pain or pleasure, hatred or +love, is greater in proportion as the emotion is greater. + Proof.-Pain diminishes or constrains a man's power of +activity (III. xi. note), in other words (III. vii.), diminishes +or constrains the effort, wherewith he endeavours to persist in +his own being ; therefore (III. v.) it is contrary to the said +endeavour : thus all the endeavours of a man affected by pain are +directed to removing that pain. But (by the definition of pain), +in proportion as the pain is greater, so also is it necessarily +opposed to a greater part of man's power of activity ; therefore +the greater the pain, the greater the power of activity employed +to remove it ; that is, the greater will be the desire or +appetite in endeavouring to remove it. Again, since pleasure +(III. xi. note) increases or aids a man's power of activity, it +may easily be shown in like manner, that a man affected by +pleasure has no desire further than to preserve it, and his +desire will be in proportion to the magnitude of the pleasure. + Lastly, since hatred and love are themselves emotions of pain +and pleasure, it follows in like manner that the endeavour, +appetite, or desire, which arises through hatred or love, will be +greater in proportion to the hatred or love. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXVIII. If a man has begun to hate an object of his love, +so that love is thoroughly destroyed, he will, causes being +equal, regard it with more hatred than if he had never loved it, +and his hatred will be in proportion to the strength of his +former love. + Proof.-If a man begins to hate that which he had loved, more +of his appetites are put under restraint than if he had never +loved it. For love is a pleasure (III. xiii. note) which a man +endeavours as far as he can to render permanent (III. xxviii.) ; +he does so by regarding the object of his love as present, and by +affecting it as far as he can pleasurably ; this endeavour is +greater in proportion as the love is greater, and so also is the +endeavour to bring about that the beloved should return his +affection (III. xxxiii.). Now these endeavours are constrained +by hatred towards the object of love (III. xiii. Coroll. and III. +xxiii.) ; wherefore the lover (III. xi. note) will for this cause +also be affected with pain, the more so in proportion as his love +has been greater ; that is, in addition to the pain caused by +hatred, there is a pain caused by the fact that he has loved the +object ; wherefore the lover will regard the beloved with greater +pain, or in other words, will hate it more than if he had never +loved it, and with the more intensity in proportion as his former +love was greater. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIX. He who hates anyone will endeavour to do him an +injury, unless he fears that a greater injury will thereby accrue +to himself ; on the other hand, he who loves anyone will, by the +same law, seek to benefit him. + Proof.-To hate a man is (III. xiii. note) to conceive him as +a cause of pain ; therefore he who hates a man will endeavour to +remove or destroy him. But if anything more painful, or, in +other words, a greater evil, should accrue to the hater +thereby-and if the hater thinks he can avoid such evil by not +carrying out the injury, which he planned against the object of +his hate-he will desire to abstain from inflicting that injury +(III. xxviii.), and the strength of his endeavour (III. xxxvii.) +will be greater than his former endeavour to do injury, and will +therefore prevail over it, as we asserted. The second part of +this proof proceeds in the same manner. Wherefore he who hates +another, etc. Q.E.D. + Note.-By good I here mean every kind of pleasure, and all +that conduces thereto, especially that which satisfies our +longings, whatsoever they may be. By evil, I mean every kind of +pain, especially that which frustrates our longings. For I have +shown (III. ix. note) that we in no case desire a thing because +we deem it good, but, contrariwise, we deem a thing good because +we desire it : consequently we deem evil that which we shrink +from ; everyone, therefore, according to his particular emotions, +judges or estimates what is good, what is bad, what is better, +what is worse, lastly, what is best, and what is worst. Thus a +miser thinks that abundance of money is the best, and want of +money the worst ; an ambitious man desires nothing so much as +glory, and fears nothing so much as shame. To an envious man +nothing is more delightful than another's misfortune, and nothing +more painful than another's success. So every man, according to +his emotions, judges a thing to be good or bad, useful or +useless. The emotion, which induces a man to turn from that +which he wishes, or to wish for that which he turns from, is +called timidity, which may accordingly be defined as the fear +whereby a man is induced to avoid an evil which he regards as +future by encountering a lesser evil (III. xxviii.). But if the +evil which he fears be shame, timidity becomes bashfulness. +Lastly, if the desire to avoid a future evil be checked by the +fear of another evil, so that the man knows not which to choose, +fear becomes consternation, especially if both the evils feared +be very great. + +PROP. XL. He, who conceives himself to be hated by another, and +believes that he has given him no cause for hatred, will hate +that other in return. + Proof.-He who conceives another as affected with hatred, will +thereupon be affected himself with hatred (III. xxvii.), that is, +with pain, accompanied by the idea of an external cause. But, by +the hypothesis, he conceives no cause for this pain except him +who is his enemy ; therefore, from conceiving that he is hated by +some one, he will be affected with pain, accompanied by the idea +of his enemy ; in other words, he will hate his enemy in return. +Q.E.D. + Note.-He who thinks that he has given just cause for hatred +will (III. xxx. and note) be affected with shame ; but this case +(III. xxv.) rarely happens. This reciprocation of hatred may +also arise from the hatred, which follows an endeavour to injure +the object of our hate (III. xxxix.). He therefore who conceives +that he is hated by another will conceive his enemy as the cause +of some evil or pain ; thus he will be affected with pain or +fear, accompanied by the idea of his enemy as cause ; in other +words, he will be affected with hatred towards his enemy, as I +said above. + Corollary I.-He who conceives, that one whom he loves hates +him, will be a prey to conflicting hatred and love. For, in so +far as he conceives that he is an object of hatred, he is +determined to hate his enemy in return. But, by the hypothesis, +he nevertheless loves him : wherefore he will be a prey to +conflicting hatred and love. + Corollary II.-If a man conceives that one, whom he has +hitherto regarded without emotion, has done him any injury from +motives of hatred, he will forthwith seek to repay the injury in +kind. + Proof.-He who conceives, that another hates him, will (by the +last proposition) hate his enemy in return, and (III. xxvi.) will +endeavour to recall everything which can affect him painfully ; +he will moreover endeavour to do him an injury (III. xxxix.). +Now the first thing of this sort which he conceives is the injury +done to himself ; he will, therefore, forthwith endeavour to +repay it in kind. Q.E.D. + Note.-The endeavour to injure one whom we hate is called +Anger ; the endeavour to repay in kind injury done to ourselves +is called Revenge. + +PROP. XLI. If anyone conceives that he is loved by another, and +believes that he has given no cause for such love, he will love +that other in return. (Cf. III. xv. Coroll., and III. xvi.) + Proof.-This proposition is proved in the same way as the +preceding one. See also the note appended thereto. + Note.-If he believes that he has given just cause for the +love, he will take pride therein (III. xxx. and note) ; this is +what most often happens (III. xxv.), and we said that its +contrary took place whenever a man conceives himself to be hated +by another. (See note to preceding proposition.) This +reciprocal love, and consequently the desire of benefiting him +who loves us (III. xxxix.), and who endeavours to benefit us, is +called gratitude or thankfulness. It thus appears that men are +much more prone to take vengeance than to return benefits. + Corollary.-He who imagines that he is loved by one whom he +hates, will be a prey to conflicting hatred and love. This is +proved in the same way as the first corollary of the preceding +proposition. + Note.-If hatred be the prevailing emotion, he will endeavour +to injure him who loves him ; this emotion is called cruelty, +especially if the victim be believed to have given no ordinary +cause for hatred. + +PROP. XLII. He who has conferred a benefit on anyone from +motives of love or honour will feel pain, if he sees that the +benefit is received without gratitude. + Proof.-When a man loves something similar to himself, he +endeavours, as far as he can, to bring it about that he should be +loved thereby in return (III. xxxiii.). Therefore he who has +conferred a benefit confers it in obedience to the desire, which +he feels of being loved in return ; that is (III. xxxiv.) from +the hope of honour or (III. xxx. note) pleasure ; hence he will +endeavour, as far as he can, to conceive this cause of honour, or +to regard it as actually existing. But, by the hypothesis, he +conceives something else, which excludes the existence of the +said cause of honour : wherefore he will thereat feel pain (III. +xix.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIII. Hatred is increased by being reciprocated, and can +on the other hand be destroyed by love. + Proof.-He who conceives, that an object of his hatred hates +him in return, will thereupon feel a new hatred, while the former +hatred (by hypothesis) still remains (III. xl.). But if, on the +other hand, he conceives that the object of hate loves him, he +will to this extent (III. xxxviii.) regard himself with pleasure, +and (III. xxix.) will endeavour to please the cause of his +emotion. In other words, he will endeavour not to hate him (III. +xli.), and not to affect him painfully ; this endeavour (III. +xxxvii.) will be greater or less in proportion to the emotion +from which it arises. Therefore, if it be greater than that +which arises from hatred, and through which the man endeavours to +affect painfully the thing which he hates, it will get the better +of it and banish the hatred from his mind. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIV. Hatred which is completely vanquished by love passes +into love : and love is thereupon greater than if hatred had not +preceded it. + Proof.-The proof proceeds in the same way as Prop. xxxviii. +of this Part : for he who begins to love a thing, which he was +wont to hate or regard with pain, from the very fact of loving +feels pleasure. To this pleasure involved in love is added the +pleasure arising from aid given to the endeavour to remove the +pain involved in hatred (III. xxxvii.), accompanied by the idea +of the former object of hatred as cause. + Note.-Though this be so, no one will endeavour to hate +anything, or to be affected with pain, for the sake of enjoying +this greater pleasure ; that is, no one will desire that he +should be injured, in the hope of recovering from the injury, nor +long to be ill for the sake of getting well. For everyone will +always endeavour to persist in his being, and to ward off pain as +far as he can. If the contrary is conceivable, namely, that a +man should desire to hate someone, in order that he might love +him the more thereafter, he will always desire to hate him. For +the strength of love is in proportion to the strength of the +hatred, wherefore the man would desire, that the hatred be +continually increased more and more, and, for a similar reason, +he would desire to become more and more ill, in order that he +might take a greater pleasure in being restored to health : in +such a case he would always endeavour to be ill, which (III. vi.) +is absurd. + +PROP. XLV. If a man conceives, that anyone similar to himself +hates anything also similar to himself, which he loves, he will +hate that person. + Proof.-The beloved object feels reciprocal hatred towards him +who hates it (III. xl.) ; therefore the lover, in conceiving that +anyone hates the beloved object, conceives the beloved thing as +affected by hatred, in other words (III. xiii.), by pain ; +consequently he is himself affected by pain accompanied by the +idea of the hater of the beloved thing as cause ; that is, he +will hate him who hates anything which he himself loves (III. +xiii. note). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLVI. If a man has been affected pleasurably or painfully +by anyone, of a class or nation different from his own, and if +the pleasure or pain has been accompanied by the idea of the said +stranger as cause, under the general category of the class or +nation : the man will feel love or hatred, not only to the +individual stranger, but also to the whole class or nation +whereto he belongs. + Proof.-This is evident from III. xvi. + +PROP. XLVII. Joy arising from the fact, that anything we hate is +destroyed, or suffers other injury, is never unaccompanied by a +certain pain in us. + Proof.-This is evident from III. xxvii. For in so far as we +conceive a thing similar to ourselves to be affected with pain, +we ourselves feel pain. + Note.-This proposition can also be proved from the Corollary +to II. xvii. Whenever we remember anything, even if it does not +actually exist, we regard it only as present, and the body is +affected in the same manner ; wherefore, in so far as the +remembrance of the thing is strong, a man is determined to regard +it with pain ; this determination, while the image of the thing +in question lasts, is indeed checked by the remembrance of other +things excluding the existence of the aforesaid thing, but is not +destroyed : hence, a man only feels pleasure in so far as the +said determination is checked : for this reason the joy arising +from the injury done to what we hate is repeated, every time we +remember that object of hatred. For, as we have said, when the +image of the thing in question, is aroused, inasmuch as it +involves the thing's existence, it determines the man to regard +the thing with the same pain as he was wont to do, when it +actually did exist. However, since he has joined to the image of +the thing other images, which exclude its existence, this +determination to pain is forthwith checked, and the man rejoices +afresh as often as the repetition takes place. This is the cause +of men's pleasure in recalling past evils, and delight in +narrating dangers from which they have escaped. For when men +conceive a danger, they conceive it as still future, and are +determined to fear it ; this determination is checked afresh by +the idea of freedom, which became associated with the idea of the +danger when they escaped therefrom : this renders them secure +afresh : therefore they rejoice afresh. + +PROP. XLVIII. Love or hatred towards, for instance, Peter is +destroyed, if the pleasure involved in the former, or the pain +involved in the latter emotion, be associated with the idea of +another cause : and will be diminished in proportion as we +conceive Peter not to have been the sole cause of either emotion. + Proof.-This Prop. is evident from the mere definition of love +and hatred (III. xiii. note). For pleasure is called love +towards Peter, and pain is called hatred towards Peter, simply in +so far as Peter is regarded as the cause of one emotion or the +other. When this condition of causality is either wholly or +partly removed, the emotion towards Peter also wholly or in part +vanishes. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIX. Love or hatred towards a thing, which we conceive to +be free, must, other conditions being similar, be greater than if +it were felt towards a thing acting by necessity. + Proof.-A thing which we conceive as free must (I. Def. vii.) +be perceived through itself without anything else. If, +therefore, we conceive it as the cause of pleasure or pain, we +shall therefore (III. xiii. note) love it or hate it, and shall +do so with the utmost love or hatred that can arise from the +given emotion. But if the thing which causes the emotion be +conceived as acting by necessity, we shall then (by the same Def. +vii. Part I.) conceive it not as the sole cause, but as one of +the causes of the emotion, and therefore our love or hatred +towards it will be less. Q.E.D. + Note.-Hence it follows, that men, thinking themselves to be +free, feel more love or hatred towards one another than towards +anything else : to this consideration we must add the imitation +of emotions treated of in III. xxvii., xxxiv., xl. and xliii. + +PROP. L. Anything whatever can be, accidentally, a cause of hope +or fear. + Proof.-This proposition is proved in the same way as III. +xv., which see, together with the note to III. xviii. + Note.-Things which are accidentally the causes of hope or +fear are called good or evil omens. Now, in so far as such omens +are the cause of hope or fear, they are (by the definitions of +hope and fear given in III. xviii. note) the causes also of +pleasure and pain ; consequently we, to this extent, regard them +with love or hatred, and endeavour either to invoke them as means +towards that which we hope for, or to remove them as obstacles, +or causes of that which we fear. It follows, further, from III. +xxv., that we are naturally so constituted as to believe readily +in that which we hope for, and with difficulty in that which we +fear ; moreover, we are apt to estimate such objects above or +below their true value. Hence there have arisen superstitions, +whereby men are everywhere assailed. However, I do not think it +worth while to point out here the vacillations springing from +hope and fear ; it follows from the definition of these emotions, +that there can be no hope without fear, and no fear without hope, +as I will duly explain in the proper place. Further, in so far +as we hope for or fear anything, we regard it with love or hatred +; thus everyone can apply by himself to hope and fear what we +have said concerning love and hatred. + +PROP. LI. Different men may be differently affected by the same +object, and the same man may be differently affected at different +times by the same object. + Proof.-The human body is affected by external bodies in a +variety of ways (II. Post. iii.). Two men may therefore be +differently affected at the same time, and therefore (by Ax. i. +after Lemma iii. after II. xiii.) may be differently affected by +one and the same object. Further (by the same Post.) the human +body can be affected sometimes in one way, sometimes in another ; +consequently (by the same Axiom) it may be differently affected +at different times by one and the same object. Q.E.D. + Note.-We thus see that it is possible, that what one man +loves another may hate, and that what one man fears another may +not fear ; or, again, that one and the same man may love what he +once hated, or may be bold where he once was timid, and so on. +Again, as everyone judges according to his emotions what is good, +what bad, what better, and what worse (III. xxxix. note), it +follows that men's judgments may vary no less than their +emotions10, hence when we compare some with others, we +distinguish them solely by the diversity of their emotions, and +style some intrepid, others timid, others by some other epithet. +For instance, I shall call a man intrepid, if he despises an evil +which I am accustomed to fear ; if I further take into +consideration, that, in his desire to injure his enemies and to +benefit those whom he loves, he is not restrained by the fear of +an evil which is sufficient to restrain me, I shall call him +daring. Again, a man will appear timid to me, if he fears an +evil which I am accustomed to despise ; and if I further take +into consideration that his desire is restrained by the fear of +an evil, which is not sufficient to restrain me, I shall say that +he is cowardly ; and in like manner will everyone pass judgment. + Lastly, from this inconstancy in the nature of human +judgment, inasmuch as a man often judges things solely by his +emotions, and inasmuch as the things which he believes cause +pleasure or pain, and therefore endeavours to promote or prevent, +are often purely imaginary, not to speak of the uncertainty of +things alluded to in III. xxviii. ; we may readily conceive that +a man may be at one time affected with pleasure, and at another +with pain, accompanied by the idea of himself as cause. Thus we +can easily understand what are Repentance and Self-complacency. +Repentance is pain, accompanied by the idea of one's self as +cause ; Self-complacency is pleasure, accompanied by the idea of +one's self as cause, and these emotions are most intense because +men believe themselves to be free (III. xlix.). + +PROP. LII. An object which we have formerly seen in conjunction +with others, and which we do not conceive to have any property +that is not common to many, will not be regarded by us for so +long, as an object which we conceive to have some property +peculiar to itself. + Proof.-As soon as we conceive an object which we have seen in +conjunction with others, we at once remember those others (II. +xviii. and note), and thus we pass forthwith from the +contemplation of one object to the contemplation of another +object. And this is the case with the object, which we conceive +to have no property that is not common to many. For we thereupon +assume that we are regarding therein nothing, which we have not +before seen in conjunction with other objects. But when we +suppose that we conceive an object something special, which we +have never seen before, we must needs say that the mind, while +regarding that object, has in itself nothing which it can fall to +regarding instead thereof ; therefore it is determined to the +contemplation of that object only. Therefore an object, &c. +Q.E.D. + Note.-This mental modification, or imagination of a +particular thing, in so far as it is alone in the mind, is called +Wonder ; but if it be excited by an object of fear, it is called +Consternation, because wonder at an evil keeps a man so engrossed +in the simple contemplation thereof, that he has no power to +think of anything else whereby he might avoid the evil. If, +however, the object of wonder be a man's prudence, industry, or +anything of that sort, inasmuch as the said man, is thereby +regarded as far surpassing ourselves, wonder is called Veneration +; otherwise, if a man's anger, envy, &c., be what we wonder at, +the emotion is called Horror. Again, if it be the prudence, +industry, or what not, of a man we love, that we wonder at, our +love will on this account be the greater (III. xii.), and when +joined to wonder or veneration is called Devotion. We may in +like manner conceive hatred, hope, confidence, and the other +emotions, as associated with wonder ; and we should thus be able +to deduce more emotions than those which have obtained names in +ordinary speech. Whence it is evident, that the names of the +emotions have been applied in accordance rather with their +ordinary manifestations than with an accurate knowledge of their +nature. + To wonder is opposed Contempt, which generally arises from +the fact that, because we see someone wondering at, loving, or +fearing something, or because something, at first sight, appears +to be like things, which we ourselves wonder at, love, fear, &c., +we are, in consequence (III. xv. Coroll. and III. xxvii.), +determined to wonder at, love, or fear that thing. But if from +the presence, or more accurate contemplation of the said thing, +we are compelled to deny concerning it all that can be the cause +of wonder, love, fear, &c., the mind then, by the presence of the +thing, remains determined to think rather of those qualities +which are not in it, than of those which are in it ; whereas, on +the other hand, the presence of the object would cause it more +particularly to regard that which is therein. As devotion +springs from wonder at a thing which we love, so does Derision +spring from contempt of a thing which we hate or fear, and Scorn +from contempt of folly, as veneration from wonder at prudence. +Lastly, we can conceive the emotions of love, hope, honour, &c., +in association with contempt, and can thence deduce other +emotions, which are not distinguished one from another by any +recognized name. + +PROP. LIII. When the mind regards itself and its own power of +activity, it feels pleasure : and that pleasure is greater in +proportion to the distinctness wherewith it conceives itself and +its own power of activity. + Proof.-A man does not know himself except through the +modifications of his body, and the ideas thereof (II. xix. and +xxiii.). When, therefore, the mind is able to contemplate +itself, it is thereby assumed to pass to a greater perfection, or +(III. xi. note) to feel pleasure ; and the pleasure will be +greater in proportion to the distinctness, wherewith it is able +to conceive itself and its own power of activity. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-This pleasure is fostered more and more, in +proportion as a man conceives himself to be praised by others. +For the more he conceives himself as praised by others, the more +he will imagine them to be affected with pleasure, accompanied by +the idea of himself (III. xxix. note) ; thus he is (III. xxvii.) +himself affected with greater pleasure, accompanied by the idea +of himself. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LIV. The mind endeavours to conceive only such things as +assert its power of activity. + Proof.-The endeavour or power of the mind is the actual +essence thereof (III. vii.) ; but the essence of the mind +obviously only affirms that which the mind is and can do ; not +that which it neither is nor can do ; therefore the mind +endeavours to conceive only such things as assert or affirm its +power of activity. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LV. When the mind contemplates its own weakness, it feels +pain thereat. + Proof.-The essence of the mind only affirms that which the +mind is, or can do ; in other words, it is the mind's nature to +conceive only such things as assert its power of activity (last +Prop.). Thus, when we say that the mind contemplates its own +weakness, we are merely saying that while the mind is attempting +to conceive something which asserts its power of activity, it is +checked in its endeavour - in other words (III. xi. note), it +feels pain. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-This pain is more and more fostered, if a man +conceives that he is blamed by others ; this may be proved in the +same way as the corollary to III. liii. + Note.-This pain, accompanied by the idea of our own weakness, +is called humility ; the pleasure, which springs from the +contemplation of ourselves, is called self-love or +self-complacency. And inasmuch as this feeling is renewed as +often as a man contemplates his own virtues, or his own power of +activity, it follows that everyone is fond of narrating his own +exploits, and displaying the force both of his body and mind, and +also that, for this reason, men are troublesome to one another. +Again, it follows that men are naturally envious (III. xxiv. +note, and III. xxxii. note), rejoicing in the shortcomings of +their equals, and feeling pain at their virtues. For whenever a +man conceives his own actions, he is affected with pleasure (III. +liii.), in proportion as his actions display more perfection, and +he conceives them more distinctly-that is (II. xl. note), in +proportion as he can distinguish them from others, and regard +them as something special. Therefore, a man will take most +pleasure in contemplating himself, when he contemplates some +quality which he denies to others. But, if that which he affirms +of himself be attributable to the idea of man or animals in +general, he will not be so greatly pleased : he will, on the +contrary, feel pain, if he conceives that his own actions fall +short when compared with those of others. This pain (III. +xxviii.) he will endeavour to remove, by putting a wrong +construction on the actions of his equals, or by, as far as he +can, embellishing his own. + It is thus apparent that men are naturally prone to hatred +and envy, which latter is fostered by their education. For +parents are accustomed to incite their children to virtue solely +by the spur of honour and envy. But, perhaps, some will scruple +to assent to what I have said, because we not seldom admire men's +virtues, and venerate their possessors. In order to remove such +doubts, I append the following corollary. + Corollary.-No one envies the virtue of anyone who is not his +equal. + Proof.-Envy is a species of hatred (III. xxiv. note) or (III. +xiii. note) pain, that is (III. xi. note), a modification whereby +a man's power of activity, or endeavour towards activity, is +checked. But a man does not endeavour or desire to do anything, +which cannot follow from his nature as it is given ; therefore a +man will not desire any power of activity or virtue (which is the +same thing) to be attributed to him, that is appropriate to +another's nature and foreign to his own ; hence his desire cannot +be checked, nor he himself pained by the contemplation of virtue +in some one unlike himself, consequently he cannot envy such an +one. But he can envy his equal, who is assumed to have the same +nature as himself. Q.E.D. + Note.-When, therefore, as we said in the note to III. lii., +we venerate a man, through wonder at his prudence, fortitude, +&c., we do so, because we conceive those qualities to be peculiar +to him, and not as common to our nature ; we, therefore, no more +envy their possessor, than we envy trees for being tall, or lions +for being courageous. + +PROP. LVI. There are as many kinds of pleasure, of pain, of +desire, and of every emotion compounded of these, such as +vacillations of spirit, or derived from these, such as love, +hatred, hope, fear, &c., as there are kinds of objects whereby we +are affected. + Proof.-Pleasure and pain, and consequently the emotions +compounded thereof, or derived therefrom, are passions, or +passive states (III. xi. note) ; now we are necessarily passive +(III. i.), in so far as we have inadequate ideas ; and only in so +far as we have such ideas are we passive (III. iii.) ; that is, +we are only necessarily passive (II. xl. note), in so far as we +conceive, or (II. xvii. and note) in so far as we are affected by +an emotion, which involves the nature of our own body, and the +nature of an external body. Wherefore the nature of every +passive state must necessarily be so explained, that the nature +of the object whereby we are affected be expressed. Namely, the +pleasure, which arises from, say, the object A, involves the +nature of that object A, and the pleasure, which arises from the +object B, involves the nature of the object B ; wherefore these +two pleasurable emotions are by nature different, inasmuch as the +causes whence they arise are by nature different. So again the +emotion of pain, which arises from one object, is by nature +different from the pain arising from another object, and, +similarly, in the case of love, hatred, hope, fear, vacillation, +&c. + Thus, there are necessarily as many kinds of pleasure, pain, +love, hatred, &c., as there are kinds of objects whereby we are +affected. Now desire is each man's essence or nature, in so far +as it is conceived as determined to a particular action by any +given modification of itself (III. ix. note) ; therefore, +according as a man is affected through external causes by this or +that kind of pleasure, pain, love, hatred, &c., in other words, +according as his nature is disposed in this or that manner, so +will his desire be of one kind or another, and the nature of one +desire must necessarily differ from the nature of another desire, +as widely as the emotions differ, wherefrom each desire arose. +Thus there are as many kinds of desire, as there are kinds of +pleasure, pain, love, &c., consequently (by what has been shown) +there are as many kinds of desire, as there are kinds of objects +whereby we are affected. Q.E.D. + Note.-Among the kinds of emotions, which, by the last +proposition, must be very numerous, the chief are luxury, +drunkenness, lust, avarice, and ambition, being merely species of +love or desire, displaying the nature of those emotions in a +manner varying according to the object, with which they are +concerned. For by luxury, drunkenness, lust, avarice, ambition, +&c., we simply mean the immoderate love of feasting, drinking, +venery, riches, and fame. Furthermore, these emotions, in so far +as we distinguish them from others merely by the objects +wherewith they are concerned, have no contraries. For +temperance, sobriety, and chastity, which we are wont to oppose +to luxury, drunkenness, and lust, are not emotions or passive +states, but indicate a power of the mind which moderates the +last-named emotions. However, I cannot here explain the +remaining kinds of emotions (seeing that they are as numerous as +the kinds of objects), nor, if I could, would it be necessary. +It is sufficient for our purpose, namely, to determine the +strength of the emotions, and the mind's power over them, to have +a general definition of each emotion. It is sufficient, I +repeat, to understand the general properties of the emotions and +the mind, to enable us to determine the quality and extent of the +mind's power in moderating and checking the emotions. Thus, +though there is a great difference between various emotions of +love, hatred, or desire, for instance between love felt towards +children, and love felt towards a wife, there is no need for us +to take cognizance of such differences, or to track out further +the nature and origin of the emotions. + +PROP. LVII. Any emotion of a given individual differs from the +emotion of another individual, only in so far as the essence of +the one individual differs from the essence of the other. + Proof.-This proposition is evident from Ax. i. (which see +after Lemma iii. Prop. xiii., Part II.). Nevertheless, we will +prove it from the nature of the three primary emotions. + All emotions are attributable to desire, pleasure, or pain, +as their definitions above given show. But desire is each man's +nature or essence (III. ix. note) ; therefore desire in one +individual differs from desire in another individual, only in so +far as the nature or essence of the one differs from the nature +or essence of the other. Again, pleasure and pain are passive +states or passions, whereby every man's power or endeavour to +persist in his being is increased or diminished, helped or +hindered (III. xi. and note). But by the endeavour to persist in +its being, in so far as it is attributable to mind and body in +conjunction, we mean appetite and desire (III. ix. note) ; +therefore pleasure and pain are identical with desire or +appetite, in so far as by external causes they are increased or +diminished, helped or hindered, in other words, they are every +man's nature ; wherefore the pleasure and pain felt by one man +differ from the pleasure and pain felt by another man, only in so +far as the nature or essence of the one man differs from the +essence of the other ; consequently, any emotion of one +individual only differs, &c. Q.E.D. + Note.-Hence it follows, that the emotions of the animals +which are called irrational (for after learning the origin of +mind we cannot doubt that brutes feel) only differ from man's +emotions, to the extent that brute nature differs from human +nature. Horse and man are alike carried away by the desire of +procreation ; but the desire of the former is equine, the desire +of the latter is human. So also the lusts and appetites of +insects, fishes, and birds must needs vary according to the +several natures. Thus, although each individual lives content +and rejoices in that nature belonging to him wherein he has his +being, yet the life, wherein each is content and rejoices, is +nothing else but the idea, or soul, of the said individual, and +hence the joy of one only differs in nature from the joy of +another, to the extent that the essence of one differs from the +essence of another. Lastly, it follows from the foregoing +proposition, that there is no small difference between the joy +which actuates, say, a drunkard, and the joy possessed by a +philosopher, as I just mention here by the way. Thus far I have +treated of the emotions attributable to man, in so far as he is +passive. It remains to add a few words on those attributable to +him in so far as he is active. + +PROP. LVIII. Besides pleasure and desire, which are passivities +or passions, there are other emotions derived from pleasure and +desire, which are attributable to us in so far as we are active. + Proof.-When the mind conceives itself and its power of +activity, it feels pleasure (III. liii.) : now the mind +necessarily contemplates itself, when it conceives a true or +adequate idea (II. xliii.). But the mind does conceive certain +adequate ideas (II. xl. note 2.). Therefore it feels pleasure in +so far as it conceives adequate ideas ; that is, in so far as it +is active (III. i.). Again, the mind, both in so far as it has +clear and distinct ideas, and in so far as it has confused ideas, +endeavours to persist in its own being (III. ix.) ; but by such +an endeavour we mean desire (by the note to the same Prop.) ; +therefore, desire is also attributable to us, in so far as we +understand, or (III. i.) in so far as we are active. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LIX. Among all the emotions attributable to the mind as +active, there are none which cannot be referred to pleasure or +desire. + Proof.-All emotions can be referred to desire, pleasure, or +pain, as their definitions, already given, show. Now by pain we +mean that the mind's power of thinking is diminished or checked +(III. xi. and note) ; therefore, in so far as the mind feels +pain, its power of understanding, that is, of activity, is +diminished or checked (III. i.) ; therefore, no painful emotions +can be attributed to the mind in virtue of its being active, but +only emotions of pleasure and desire, which (by the last Prop.) +are attributable to the mind in that condition. Q.E.D. + Note.-All actions following from emotion, which are +attributable to the mind in virtue of its understanding, I set +down to strength of character (fortitudo), which I divide into +courage (animositas) and highmindedness (generositas). By +courage I mean the desire whereby every man strives to preserve +his own being in accordance solely with the dictates of reason. +By highmindedness I mean the desire whereby every man endeavours, +solely under the dictates of reason, to aid other men and to +unite them to himself in friendship. Those actions, therefore, +which have regard solely to the good of the agent I set down to +courage, those which aim at the good of others I set down to +highmindedness. Thus temperance, sobriety, and presence of mind +in danger, &c., are varieties of courage ; courtesy, mercy, &c., +are varieties of highmindedness. + I think I have thus explained, and displayed through their +primary causes the principal emotions and vacillations of spirit, +which arise from the combination of the three primary emotions, +to wit, desire, pleasure, and pain. It is evident from what I +have said, that we are in many ways driven about by external +causes, and that like waves of the sea driven by contrary winds +we toss to and fro unwitting of the issue and of our fate. But I +have said, that I have only set forth the chief conflicting +emotions, not all that might be given. For, by proceeding in the +same way as above, we can easily show that love is united to +repentance, scorn, shame, &c. I think everyone will agree from +what has been said, that the emotions may be compounded one with +another in so many ways, and so many variations may arise +therefrom, as to exceed all possibility of computation. However, +for my purpose, it is enough to have enumerated the most +important ; to reckon up the rest which I have omitted would be +more curious than profitable. It remains to remark concerning +love, that it very often happens that while we are enjoying a +thing which we longed for, the body, from the act of enjoyment, +acquires a new disposition, whereby it is determined in another +way, other images of things are aroused in it, and the mind +begins to conceive and desire something fresh. For example, when +we conceive something which generally delights us with its +flavour, we desire to enjoy, that is, to eat it. But whilst we +are thus enjoying it, the stomach is filled and the body is +otherwise disposed. If, therefore, when the body is thus +otherwise disposed, the image of the food which is present be +stimulated, and consequently the endeavour or desire to eat it be +stimulated also, the new disposition of the body will feel +repugnance to the desire or attempt, and consequently the +presence of the food which we formerly longed for will become +odious. This revulsion of feeling is called satiety or +weariness. For the rest, I have neglected the outward +modifications of the body observable in emotions, such, for +instance, as trembling, pallor, sobbing, laughter, &c., for these +are attributable to the body only, without any reference to the +mind. Lastly, the definitions of the emotions require to be +supplemented in a few points ; I will therefore repeat them, +interpolating such observations as I think should here and there +be added. + + +DEFINITIONS OF THE EMOTIONS + +I. Desire is the actual essence of man, in so far as it is +conceived, as determined to a particular activity by some given +modification of itself. + Explanation.-We have said above, in the note to Prop. ix. of +this part, that desire is appetite, with consciousness thereof ; +further, that appetite is the essence of man, in so far as it is +determined to act in a way tending to promote its own +persistence. But, in the same note, I also remarked that, +strictly speaking, I recognize no distinction between appetite +and desire. For whether a man be conscious of his appetite or +not, it remains one and the same appetite. Thus, in order to +avoid the appearance of tautology, I have refrained from +explaining desire by appetite ; but I have take care to define it +in such a manner, as to comprehend, under one head, all those +endeavours of human nature, which we distinguish by the terms +appetite, will, desire, or impulse. I might, indeed, have said, +that desire is the essence of man, in so far as it is conceived +as determined to a particular activity ; but from such a +definition (cf. II. xxiii.) it would not follow that the mind can +be conscious of its desire or appetite. Therefore, in order to +imply the cause of such consciousness, it was necessary to add, +in so far as it is determined by some given modification, &c. +For, by a modification of man's essence, we understand every +disposition of the said essence, whether such disposition be +innate, or whether it be conceived solely under the attribute of +thought, or solely under the attribute of extension, or whether, +lastly, it be referred simultaneously to both these attributes. +By the term desire, then, I here mean all man's endeavours, +impulses, appetites, and volitions, which vary according to each +man's disposition, and are, therefore, not seldom opposed one to +another, according as a man is drawn in different directions, and +knows not where to turn. + +II. Pleasure is the transition of a man from a less to a greater +perfection. + +III. Pain is the transition of a man from a greater to a less +perfection. + Explanation-I say transition : for pleasure is not perfection +itself. For, if man were born with the perfection to which he +passes, he would possess the same, without the emotion of +pleasure. This appears more clearly from the consideration of +the contrary emotion, pain. No one can deny, that pain consists +in the transition to a less perfection, and not in the less +perfection itself : for a man cannot be pained, in so far as he +partakes of perfection of any degree. Neither can we say, that +pain consists in the absence of a greater perfection. For +absence is nothing, whereas the emotion of pain is an activity ; +wherefore this activity can only be the activity of transition +from a greater to a less perfection-in other words, it is an +activity whereby a man's power of action is lessened or +constrained (cf. III. xi. note). I pass over the definitions of +merriment, stimulation, melancholy, and grief, because these +terms are generally used in reference to the body, and are merely +kinds of pleasure or pain. + +IV. Wonder is the conception (imaginatio) of anything, wherein +the mind comes to a stand, because the particular concept in +question has no connection with other concepts (cf. III. lii. and +note). + Explanation-In the note to II. xviii. we showed the reason, +why the mind, from the contemplation of one thing, straightway +falls to the contemplation of another thing, namely, because the +images of the two things are so associated and arranged, that one +follows the other. This state of association is impossible, if +the image of the thing be new ; the mind will then be at a stand +in the contemplation thereof, until it is determined by other +causes to think of something else. + Thus the conception of a new object, considered in itself, is +of the same nature as other conceptions ; hence, I do not include +wonder among the emotions, nor do I see why I should so include +it, inasmuch as this distraction of the mind arises from no +positive cause drawing away the mind from other objects, but +merely from the absence of a cause, which should determine the +mind to pass from the contemplation of one object to the +contemplation of another. + I, therefore, recognize only three primitive or primary +emotions (as I said in the note to III. xi.), namely, pleasure, +pain, and desire. I have spoken of wonder simply because it is +customary to speak of certain emotions springing from the three +primitive ones by different names, when they are referred to the +objects of our wonder. I am led by the same motive to add a +definition of contempt. + +V. Contempt is the conception of anything which touches the mind +so little, that its presence leads the mind to imagine those +qualities which are not in it rather than such as are in it (cf. +III. lii. note). + The definitions of veneration and scorn I here pass over, for +I am not aware that any emotions are named after them. + +VI. Love is pleasure, accompanied by the idea of an external +cause. + Explanation-This definition explains sufficiently clearly the +essence of love ; the definition given by those authors who say +that love is the lover's wish to unite himself to the loved +object expresses a property, but not the essence of love ; and, +as such authors have not sufficiently discerned love's essence, +they have been unable to acquire a true conception of its +properties, accordingly their definition is on all hands admitted +to be very obscure. It must, however, be noted, that when I say +that it is a property of love, that the lover should wish to +unite himself to the beloved object, I do not here mean by wish +consent, or conclusion, or a free decision of the mind (for I +have shown such, in II. xlviii., to be fictitious) ; neither do I +mean a desire of being united to the loved object when it is +absent, or of continuing in its presence when it is at hand ; for +love can be conceived without either of these desires ; but by +wish I mean the contentment, which is in the lover, on account of +the presence of the beloved object, whereby the pleasure of the +lover is strengthened, or at least maintained. + +VII. Hatred is pain, accompanied by the idea of an external +cause. + Explanation-These observations are easily grasped after what +has been said in the explanation of the preceding definition (cf. +also III. xiii. note). + +VIII. Inclination is pleasure, accompanied by the idea of +something which is accidentally a cause of pleasure. + +IX. Aversion is pain, accompanied by the idea of something which +is accidentally the cause of pain (cf. III. xv. note). + +X. Devotion is love towards one whom we admire. + Explanation-Wonder (admiratio) arises (as we have shown, III. +lii.) from the novelty of a thing. If, therefore, it happens +that the object of our wonder is often conceived by us, we shall +cease to wonder at it ; thus we see, that the emotion of devotion +readily degenerates into simple love. + +XI. Derision is pleasure arising from our conceiving the +presence of a quality, which we despise, in an object which we +hate. + Explanation-In so far as we despise a thing which we hate, we +deny existence thereof (III. lii. note), and to that extent +rejoice (III. xx.). But since we assume that man hates that +which he derides, it follows that the pleasure in question is not +without alloy (cf. III. xlvii. note). + +XII. Hope is an inconstant pleasure, arising from the idea of +something past or future, whereof we to a certain extent doubt +the issue. + +XIII. Fear is an inconstant pain arising from the idea of +something past or future, whereof we to a certain extent doubt +the issue (cf. III. xviii. note). + Explanation-From these definitions it follows, that there is +no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. +For he, who depends on hope and doubts concerning the issue of +anything, is assumed to conceive something, which excludes the +existence of the said thing in the future ; therefore he, to this +extent, feels pain (cf. III. xix.) ; consequently, while +dependent on hope, he fears for the issue. Contrariwise he, who +fears, in other words doubts, concerning the issue of something +which he hates, also conceives something which excludes the +existence of the thing in question ; to this extent he feels +pleasure, and consequently to this extent he hopes that it will +turn out as he desires (III. xx.). + +XIV. Confidence is pleasure arising from the idea of something +past or future, wherefrom all cause of doubt has been removed. + +XV. Despair is pain arising from the idea of something past or +future, wherefrom all cause of doubt has been removed. + Explanation-Thus confidence springs from hope, and despair +from fear, when all cause for doubt as to the issue of an event +has been removed : this comes to pass, because man conceives +something past or future as present and regards it as such, or +else because he conceives other things, which exclude the +existence of the causes of his doubt. For, although we can never +be absolutely certain of the issue of any particular event (II. +xxxi. Coroll.), it may nevertheless happen that we feel no doubt +concerning it. For we have shown, that to feel no doubt +concerning a thing is not the same as to be quite certain of it +(II. xlix. note). Thus it may happen that we are affected by the +same emotion of pleasure or pain concerning a thing past or +future, as concerning the conception of a thing present ; this I +have already shown in III. xviii., to which, with its note, I +refer the reader. + +XVI. Joy is pleasure accompanied by the idea of something past, +which has had an issue beyond our hope. + +XVII. Disappointment is pain accompanied by the idea of +something past, which has had an issue contrary to our hope. + +XVIII. Pity is pain accompanied by the idea of evil, which has +befallen someone else whom we conceive to be like ourselves (cf. +III. xxii. note, and III. xxvii. note). + Explanation-Between pity and sympathy (misericordia) there +seems to be no difference, unless perhaps that the former term is +used in reference to a particular action, and the latter in +reference to a disposition. + +XIX. Approval is love towards one who has done good to another. + +XX. Indignation is hatred towards one who has done evil to +another. + Explanation-I am aware that these terms are employed in +senses somewhat different from those usually assigned. But my +purpose is to explain, not the meaning of words, but the nature +of things. I therefore make use of such terms, as may convey my +meaning without any violent departure from their ordinary +signification. One statement of my method will suffice. As for +the cause of the above-named emotions see III. xxvii. Coroll. i., +and III. xxii. note. + +XXI. Partiality is thinking too highly of anyone because of the +love we bear him. + +XXII. Disparagement is thinking too meanly of anyone because we +hate him. + Explanation-Thus partiality is an effect of love, and +disparagement an effect of hatred : so that partiality may also +be defined as love, in so far as it induces a man to think too +highly of a beloved object. Contrariwise, disparagement may be +defined as hatred, in so far as it induces a man to think too +meanly of a hated object. Cf. III. xxvi. note. + +XXIII. Envy is hatred, in so far as it induces a man to be +pained by another's good fortune, and to rejoice in another's +evil fortune. + Explanation-Envy is generally opposed to sympathy, which, by +doing some violence to the meaning of the word, may therefore be +thus defined : + +XXIV. Sympathy (misericordia) is love, in so far as it induces a +man to feel pleasure at another's good fortune, and pain at +another's evil fortune. + Explanation-Concerning envy see the notes to III. xxiv. and +xxxii. These emotions also arise from pleasure or pain +accompanied by the idea of something external, as cause either in +itself or accidentally. I now pass on to other emotions, which +are accompanied by the idea of something within as a cause. + +XXV. Self-approval is pleasure arising from a man's +contemplation of himself and his own power of action. + +XXVI. Humility is pain arising from a man's contemplation of his +own weakness of body or mind. + Explanation-Self-complacency is opposed to humility, in so +far as we thereby mean pleasure arising from a contemplation of +our own power of action ; but, in so far as we mean thereby +pleasure accompanied by the idea of any action which we believe +we have performed by the free decision of our mind, it is opposed +to repentance, which we may thus define : + +XXVII. Repentance is pain accompanied by the idea of some +action, which we believe we have performed by the free decision +of our mind. + Explanation-The causes of these emotions we have set forth in +III. li. note, and in III. liii., liv., lv. and note. Concerning +the free decision of the mind see II. xxxv. note. This is +perhaps the place to call attention to the fact, that it is +nothing wonderful that all those actions, which are commonly +called wrong, are followed by pain, and all those, which are +called right, are followed by pleasure. We can easily gather +from what has been said, that this depends in great measure on +education. Parents, by reprobating the former class of actions, +and by frequently chiding their children because of them, and +also by persuading to and praising the latter class, have brought +it about, that the former should be associated with pain and the +latter with pleasure. This is confirmed by experience. For +custom and religion are not the same among all men, but that +which some consider sacred others consider profane, and what some +consider honourable others consider disgraceful. According as +each man has been educated, he feels repentance for a given +action or glories therein. + +XXVIII. Pride is thinking too highly of one's self from +self-love. + Explanation-Thus pride is different from partiality, for the +latter term is used in reference to an external object, but pride +is used of a man thinking too highly of himself. However, as +partiality is the effect of love, so is pride the effect or +property of self-love, which may therefore be thus defined, love +of self or self-approval, in so far as it leads a man to think +too highly of himself. To this emotion there is no contrary. +For no one thinks too meanly of himself because of self-hatred ; +I say that no one thinks too meanly of himself, in so far as he +conceives that he is incapable of doing this or that. For +whatsoever a man imagines that he is incapable of doing, he +imagines this of necessity, and by that notion he is so disposed, +that he really cannot do that which he conceives that he cannot +do. For, so long as he conceives that he cannot do it, so long +is he not determined to do it, and consequently so long is it +impossible for him to do it. However, if we consider such +matters as only depend on opinion, we shall find it conceivable +that a man may think too meanly of himself ; for it may happen, +that a man, sorrowfully regarding his own weakness, should +imagine that he is despised by all men, while the rest of the +world are thinking of nothing less than of despising him. Again, +a man may think too meanly of himself, if he deny of himself in +the present something in relation to a future time of which he is +uncertain. As, for instance, if he should say that he is unable +to form any clear conceptions, or that he can desire and do +nothing but what is wicked and base, &c. We may also say, that a +man thinks too meanly of himself, when we see him from excessive +fear of shame refusing to do things which others, his equals, +venture. We can, therefore, set down as a contrary to pride an +emotion which I will call self-abasement, for as from +self-complacency springs pride, so from humility springs +self-abasement, which I will accordingly thus define : + +XXIX. Self-abasement is thinking too meanly of one's self by +reason of pain. + Explanation-We are nevertheless generally accustomed to +oppose pride to humility, but in that case we pay more attention +to the effect of either emotion than to its nature. We are wont +to call proud the man who boasts too much (III. xxx. note), who +talks of nothing but his own virtues and other people's faults, +who wishes to be first ; and lastly who goes through life with a +style and pomp suitable to those far above him in station. On +the other hand, we call humble the man who too often blushes, who +confesses his faults, who sets forth other men's virtues, and +who, lastly, walks with bent head and is negligent of his attire. +However, these emotions, humility and self-abasement, are +extremely rare. For human nature, considered in itself, strives +against them as much as it can (see III. xiii., liv.) ; hence +those, who are believed to be most self-abased and humble, are +generally in reality the most ambitious and envious. + +XXX. Honour11 is pleasure accompanied by the idea of some action +of our own, which we believe to be praised by others. + +XXXI. Shame is pain accompanied by the idea of some action of +our own, which we believe to be blamed by others. + Explanation-On this subject see the note to III. xxx. But we +should here remark the difference which exists between shame and +modesty. Shame is the pain following the deed whereof we are +ashamed. Modesty is the fear or dread of shame, which restrains +a man from committing a base action. Modesty is usually opposed +to shamelessness, but the latter is not an emotion, as I will +duly show ; however, the names of the emotions (as I have +remarked already) have regard rather to their exercise than to +their nature. + I have now fulfilled the task of explaining the emotions +arising from pleasure and pain. I therefore proceed to treat of +those which I refer to desire. + +XXXII. Regret is the desire or appetite to possess something, +kept alive by the remembrance of the said thing, and at the same +time constrained by the remembrance of other things which exclude +the existence of it. + Explanation-When we remember a thing, we are by that very +fact, as I have already said more than once, disposed to +contemplate it with the same emotion as if it were something +present ; but this disposition or endeavour, while we are awake, +is generally checked by the images of things which exclude the +existence of that which we remember. Thus when we remember +something which affected us with a certain pleasure, we by that +very fact endeavour to regard it with the same emotion of +pleasure as though it were present, but this endeavour is at once +checked by the remembrance of things which exclude the existence +of the thing in question. Wherefore regret is, strictly +speaking, a pain opposed to that of pleasure, which arises from +the absence of something we hate (cf. III. xlvii. note). But, as +the name regret seems to refer to desire, I set this emotion +down, among the emotions springing from desire. + +XXXIII. Emulation is the desire of something, engendered in us +by our conception that others have the same desire. + Explanation-He who runs away, because he sees others running +away, or he who fears, because he sees others in fear ; or again, +he who, on seeing that another man has burnt his hand, draws +towards him his own hand, and moves his body as though his own +were burnt ; such an one can be said to imitate another's +emotion, but not to emulate him ; not because the causes of +emulation and imitation are different, but because it has become +customary to speak of emulation only in him, who imitates that +which we deem to be honourable, useful, or pleasant. As to the +cause of emulation, cf. III. xxvii. and note. The reason why +this emotion is generally coupled with envy may be seen from III. +xxxii. and note. + +XXXIV. Thankfulness or Gratitude is the desire or zeal springing +from love, whereby we endeavour to benefit him, who with similar +feelings of love has conferred a benefit on us. Cf. III. xxxix. +note and xl. + +XXXV. Benevolence is the desire of benefiting one whom we pity. +Cf. III. xxvii. note. + +XXXVI. Anger is the desire, whereby through hatred we are +induced to injure one whom we hate, III. xxxix. + +XXXVII. Revenge is the desire whereby we are induced, through +mutual hatred, to injure one who, with similar feelings, has +injured us. (See III. xl. Coroll. ii and note.) + +XXXVIII. Cruelty or savageness is the desire, whereby a man is +impelled to injure one whom we love or pity. + Explanation-To cruelty is opposed clemency, which is not a +passive state of the mind, but a power whereby man restrains his +anger and revenge. + +XXXIX. Timidity is the desire to avoid a greater evil, which we +dread, by undergoing a lesser evil. Cf. III. xxxix. note. + +XL. Daring is the desire, whereby a man is set on to do +something dangerous which his equals fear to attempt. + +XLI. Cowardice is attributed to one, whose desire is checked by +the fear of some danger which his equals dare to encounter. + Explanation-Cowardice is, therefore, nothing else but the +fear of some evil, which most men are wont not to fear ; hence I +do not reckon it among the emotions springing from desire. +Nevertheless, I have chosen to explain it here, because, in so +far as we look to the desire, it is truly opposed to the emotion +of daring. + +XLII. Consternation is attributed to one, whose desire of +avoiding evil is checked by amazement at the evil which he fears. + Explanation-Consternation is, therefore, a species of +cowardice. But, inasmuch as consternation arises from a double +fear, it may be more conveniently defined as a fear which keeps a +man so bewildered and wavering, that he is not able to remove the +evil. I say bewildered, in so far as we understand his desire of +removing the evil to be constrained by his amazement. I say +wavering, in so far as we understand the said desire to be +constrained by the fear of another evil, which equally torments +him : whence it comes to pass that he knows not, which he may +avert of the two. On this subject, see III. xxxix. note, and +III. lii. note. Concerning cowardice and daring, see III. li. +note. + +XLIII. Courtesy, or deference (Humanitas seu modestia), is the +desire of acting in a way that should please men, and refraining +from that which should displease them. + +XLIV. Ambition is the immoderate desire of power. + Explanation-Ambition is the desire, whereby all the emotions +(cf. III. xxvii. and xxxi.) are fostered and strengthened ; +therefore this emotion can with difficulty be overcome. For, so +long as a man is bound by any desire, he is at the same time +necessarily bound by this. "The best men," says Cicero, "are +especially led by honour. Even philosophers, when they write a +book contemning honour, sign their names thereto," and so on. + +XLV. Luxury is excessive desire, or even love of living +sumptuously. + +XLVI. Intemperance is the excessive desire and love of drinking. + +XLVII. Avarice is the excessive desire and love of riches. + +XLVIII. Lust is desire and love in the matter of sexual +intercourse. + Explanation-Whether this desire be excessive or not, it is +still called lust. These last five emotions (as I have shown in +III. lvi.) have on contraries. For deference is a species of +ambition. Cf. III. xxix. note. + Again, I have already pointed out, that temperance, sobriety, +and chastity indicate rather a power than a passivity of the +mind. It may, nevertheless, happen, that an avaricious, an +ambitious, or a timid man may abstain from excess in eating, +drinking, or sexual indulgence, yet avarice, ambition, and fear +are not contraries to luxury, drunkenness, and debauchery. For +an avaricious man often is glad to gorge himself with food and +drink at another man's expense. An ambitious man will restrain +himself in nothing, so long as he thinks his indulgences are +secret ; and if he lives among drunkards and debauchees, he will, +from the mere fact of being ambitious, be more prone to those +vices. Lastly, a timid man does that which he would not. For +though an avaricious man should, for the sake of avoiding death, +cast his riches into the sea, he will none the less remain +avaricious ; so, also, if a lustful man is downcast, because he +cannot follow his bent, he does not, on the ground of abstention, +cease to be lustful. In fact, these emotions are not so much +concerned with the actual feasting, drinking, &c., as with the +appetite and love of such. Nothing, therefore, can be opposed to +these emotions, but high-mindedness and valour, whereof I will +speak presently. + The definitions of jealousy and other waverings of the mind I +pass over in silence, first, because they arise from the +compounding of the emotions already described ; secondly, because +many of them have no distinctive names, which shows that it is +sufficient for practical purposes to have merely a general +knowledge of them. However, it is established from the +definitions of the emotions, which we have set forth, that they +all spring from desire, pleasure, or pain, or, rather, that there +is nothing besides these three ; wherefore each is wont to be +called by a variety of names in accordance with its various +relations and extrinsic tokens. If we now direct our attention +to these primitive emotions, and to what has been said concerning +the nature of the mind, we shall be able thus to define the +emotions, in so far as they are referred to the mind only. + + +GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE EMOTIONS + + Emotion, which is called a passivity of the soul, is a +confused idea, whereby the mind affirms concerning its body, or +any part thereof, a force for existence (existendi vis) greater +or less than before, and by the presence of which the mind is +determined to think of one thing rather than another. + Explanation-I say, first, that emotion or passion of the soul +is a confused idea. For we have shown that the mind is only +passive, in so far as it has inadequate or confused ideas. (III. +iii.) I say, further, whereby the mind affirms concerning its +body or any part thereof a force for existence greater than +before. For all the ideas of bodies, which we possess, denote +rather the actual disposition of our own body (II. xvi. Coroll. +ii.) than the nature of an external body. But the idea which +constitutes the reality of an emotion must denote or express the +disposition of the body, or of some part thereof, because its +power of action or force for existence is increased or +diminished, helped or hindered. But it must be noted that, when +I say a greater or less force for existence than before, I do not +mean that the mind compares the present with the past disposition +of the body, but that the idea which constitutes the reality of +an emotion affirms something of the body, which, in fact, +involves more or less of reality than before. + And inasmuch as the essence of mind consists in the fact (II. +xi., xiii.), that it affirms the actual existence of its own +body, and inasmuch as we understand by perfection the very +essence of a thing, it follows that the mind passes to greater or +less perfection, when it happens to affirm concerning its own +body, or any part thereof, something involving more or less +reality than before. + When, therefore, I said above that the power of the mind is +increased or diminished, I merely meant that the mind had formed +of its own body, or of some part thereof, an idea involving more +or less of reality, than it had already affirmed concerning its +own body. For the excellence of ideas, and the actual power of +thinking are measured by the excellence of the object. Lastly, I +have added by the presence of which the mind is determined to +think of one thing rather than another, so that, besides the +nature of pleasure and pain, which the first part of the +definition explains, I might also express the nature of desire. + + + + +PART IV : +Of Human Bondage, or the Strength of the Emotions + + +PREFACE + + Human infirmity in moderating and checking the emotions I +name bondage : for, when a man is a prey to his emotions, he is +not his own master, but lies at the mercy of fortune : so much +so, that he is often compelled, while seeing that which is better +for him, to follow that which is worse. Why this is so, and what +is good or evil in the emotions, I propose to show in this part +of my treatise. But, before I begin, it would be well to make a +few prefatory observations on perfection and imperfection, good +and evil. + When a man has purposed to make a given thing, and has +brought it to perfection, his work will be pronounced perfect, +not only by himself, but by everyone who rightly knows, or thinks +that he knows, the intention and aim of its author. For +instance, suppose anyone sees a work (which I assume to be not +yet completed), and knows that the aim of the author of that work +is to build a house, he will call the work imperfect ; he will, +on the other hand, call it perfect, as soon as he sees that it is +carried through to the end, which its author had purposed for it. +But if a man sees a work, the like whereof he has never seen +before, and if he knows not the intention of the artificer, he +plainly cannot know, whether that work be perfect or imperfect. +Such seems to be the primary meaning of these terms. + But, after men began to form general ideas, to think out +types of houses, buildings, towers, &c., and to prefer certain +types to others, it came about, that each man called perfect that +which he saw agree with the general idea he had formed of the +thing in question, and called imperfect that which he saw agree +less with his own preconceived type, even though it had evidently +been completed in accordance with the idea of its artificer. +This seems to be the only reason for calling natural phenomena, +which, indeed, are not made with human hands, perfect or +imperfect : for men are wont to form general ideas of things +natural, no less than of things artificial, and such ideas they +hold as types, believing that Nature (who they think does nothing +without an object) has them in view, and has set them as types +before herself. Therefore, when they behold something in Nature, +which does not wholly conform to the preconceived type which they +have formed of the thing in question, they say that Nature has +fallen short or has blundered, and has left her work incomplete. +Thus we see that men are wont to style natural phenomena perfect +or imperfect rather from their own prejudices, than from true +knowledge of what they pronounce upon. + Now we showed in the Appendix to Part I., that Nature does +not work with an end in view. For the eternal and infinite +Being, which we call God or Nature, acts by the same necessity as +that whereby it exists. For we have shown, that by the same +necessity of its nature, whereby it exists, it likewise works (I. +xvi.). The reason or cause why God or Nature exists, and the +reason why he acts, are one and the same. Therefore, as he does +not exist for the sake of an end, so neither does he act for the +sake of an end ; of his existence and of his action there is +neither origin nor end. Wherefore, a cause which is called final +is nothing else but human desire, in so far as it is considered +as the origin or cause of anything. For example, when we say +that to be inhabited is the final cause of this or that house, we +mean nothing more than that a man, conceiving the conveniences of +household life, had a desire to build a house. Wherefore, the +being inhabited, in so far as it is regarded as a final cause, is +nothing else but this particular desire, which is really the +efficient cause ; it is regarded as the primary cause, because +men are generally ignorant of the causes of their desires. They +are, as I have often said already, conscious of their own actions +and appetites, but ignorant of the causes whereby they are +determined to any particular desire. Therefore, the common +saying that Nature sometimes falls short, or blunders, and +produces things which are imperfect, I set down among the glosses +treated of in the Appendix to Part I. Perfection and +imperfection, then, are in reality merely modes of thinking, or +notions which we form from a comparison among one another of +individuals of the same species ; hence I said above (II. Def. +vi.), that by reality and perfection I mean the same thing. For +we are wont to refer all the individual things in nature to one +genus, which is called the highest genus, namely, to the category +of Being, whereto absolutely all individuals in nature belong. +Thus, in so far as we refer the individuals in nature to this +category, and comparing them one with another, find that some +possess more of being or reality than others, we, to this extent, +say that some are more perfect than others. Again, in so far as +we attribute to them anything implying negation-as term, end, +infirmity, etc., we, to this extent, call them imperfect, because +they do not affect our mind so much as the things which we call +perfect, not because they have any intrinsic deficiency, or +because Nature has blundered. For nothing lies within the scope +of a thing's nature, save that which follows from the necessity +of the nature of its efficient cause, and whatsoever follows from +the necessity of the nature of its efficient cause necessarily +comes to pass. + As for the terms good and bad, they indicate no positive +quality in things regarded in themselves, but are merely modes of +thinking, or notions which we form from the comparison of things +one with another. Thus one and the same thing can be at the same +time good, bad, and indifferent. For instance, music is good for +him that is melancholy, bad for him that mourns ; for him that is +deaf, it is neither good nor bad. + Nevertheless, though this be so, the terms should still be +retained. For, inasmuch as we desire to form an idea of man as a +type of human nature which we may hold in view, it will be useful +for us to retain the terms in question, in the sense I have +indicated. + In what follows, then, I shall mean by, "good" that, which we +certainly know to be a means of approaching more nearly to the +type of human nature, which we have set before ourselves ; by +"bad," that which we certainly know to be a hindrance to us in +approaching the said type. Again, we shall that men are more +perfect, or more imperfect, in proportion as they approach more +or less nearly to the said type. For it must be specially +remarked that, when I say that a man passes from a lesser to a +greater perfection, or vice versâ, I do not mean that he is +changed from one essence or reality to another ; for instance, a +horse would be as completely destroyed by being changed into a +man, as by being changed into an insect. What I mean is, that we +conceive the thing's power of action, in so far as this is +understood by its nature, to be increased or diminished. Lastly, +by perfection in general I shall, as I have said, mean reality-in +other words, each thing's essence, in so far as it exists, and +operates in a particular manner, and without paying any regard to +its duration. For no given thing can be said to be more perfect, +because it has passed a longer time in existence. The duration +of things cannot be determined by their essence, for the essence +of things involves no fixed and definite period of existence ; +but everything, whether it be more perfect or less perfect, will +always be able to persist in existence with the same force +wherewith it began to exist ; wherefore, in this respect, all +things are equal. + + +DEFINITIONS. + +I. By good I mean that which we certainly know to be useful to +us. + +II. By evil I mean that which we certainly know to be a +hindrance +to us in the attainment of any good. + (Concerning these terms see the foregoing preface towards the +end.) + +III. Particular things I call contingent in so far as, while +regarding their essence only, we find nothing therein, which +necessarily asserts their existence or excludes it. + +IV. Particular things I call possible in so far as, while +regarding the causes whereby they must be produced, we know not, +whether such causes be determined for producing them. + (In I. xxxiii. note. i., I drew no distinction between +possible and contingent, because there was in that place no need +to distinguish them accurately.) + +V. By conflicting emotions I mean those which draw a man in +different directions, though they are of the same kind, such as +luxury and avarice, which are both species of love, and are +contraries, not by nature, but by accident. + +VI. What I mean by emotion felt towards a thing, future, +present, and past, I explained in III. xviii., notes. i. and ii., +which see. + (But I should here also remark, that we can only distinctly +conceive distance of space or time up to a certain definite limit +; that is, all objects distant from us more than two hundred +feet, or whose distance from the place where we are exceeds that +which we can distinctly conceive, seem to be an equal distance +from us, and all in the same plane ; so also objects, whose time +of existing is conceived as removed from the present by a longer +interval than we can distinctly conceive, seem to be all equally +distant from the present, and are set down, as it were, to the +same moment of time.) + +VII. By an end, for the sake of which we do something, I mean a +desire. + +VIII. By virtue (virtus) and power I mean the same thing ; that +is (III. vii), virtue, in so far as it is referred to man, is a +man's nature or essence, in so far as it has the power of +effecting what can only be understood by the laws of that nature. + + +AXIOM. + + There is no individual thing in nature, than which there is +not another more powerful and strong. Whatsoever thing be given, +there is something stronger whereby it can be destroyed. + + +PROPOSITIONS. + +PROP. I. No positive quality possessed by a false idea is +removed by the presence of what is true, in virtue of its being +true. + Proof.-Falsity consists solely in the privation of knowledge +which inadequate ideas involve (II. xxxv.), nor have they any +positive quality on account of which they are called false (II. +xxxiii.) ; contrariwise, in so far as they are referred to God, +they are true (II. xxxii.). Wherefore, if the positive quality +possessed by a false idea were removed by the presence of what is +true, in virtue of its being true, a true idea would then be +removed by itself, which (IV. iii.) is absurd. Therefore, no +positive quality possessed by a false idea, &c. Q.E.D. + Note.-This proposition is more clearly understood from II. +xvi. Coroll. ii. For imagination is an idea, which indicates +rather the present disposition of the human body than the nature +of the external body ; not indeed distinctly, but confusedly ; +whence it comes to pass, that the mind is said to err. For +instance, when we look at the sun, we conceive that it is distant +from us about two hundred feet ; in this judgment we err, so long +as we are in ignorance of its true distance ; when its true +distance is known, the error is removed, but not the imagination +; or, in other words, the idea of the sun, which only explains +tho nature of that luminary, in so far as the body is affected +thereby : wherefore, though we know the real distance, we shall +still nevertheless imagine the sun to be near us. For, as we +said in II. xxxv. note, we do not imagine the sun to be so near +us, because we are ignorant of its true distance, but because the +mind conceives the magnitude of the sun to the extent that the +body is affected thereby. Thus, when the rays of the sun falling +on the surface of water are reflected into our eyes, we imagine +the sun as if it were in the water, though we are aware of its +real position ; and similarly other imaginations, wherein the +mind is deceived, whether they indicate the natural disposition +of the body, or that its power of activity is increased or +diminished, are not contrary to the truth, and do not vanish at +its presence. It happens indeed that, when we mistakenly fear an +evil, the fear vanishes when we hear the true tidings ; but the +contrary also happens, namely, that we fear an evil which will +certainly come, and our fear vanishes when we hear false tidings +; thus imaginations do not vanish at the presence of the truth, +in virtue of its being true, but because other imaginations, +stronger than the first, supervene and exclude the present +existence of that which we imagined, as I have shown in II. xvii. + +PROP. II. We are only passive, in so far as we are apart of +Nature, which cannot be conceived by itself without other parts. + Proof.-We are said to be passive, when something arises in +us, whereof we are only a partial cause (III. Def. ii.), that is +(III. Def. i.), something which cannot be deduced solely from the +laws of our nature. We are passive therefore, in so far as we +are a part of Nature, which cannot be conceived by itself without +other parts. Q.E.D. + +PROP. III. The force whereby a man persists in existing is +limited, and is infinitely surpassed by the power of external +causes. + Proof.-This is evident from the axiom of this part. For, +when man is given, there is something else-say A-more powerful ; +when A is given, there is something else-say B-more powerful than +A, and so on to infinity ; thus the power of man is limited by +the power of some other thing, and is infinitely surpassed by the +power of external causes. Q.E.D. + +PROP. IV. It is impossible, that man should not be a part of +Nature, or that he should be capable of undergoing no changes, +save such as can be understood through his nature only as their +adequate cause. + Proof.-The power, whereby each particular thing, and +consequently man, preserves his being, is the power of God or of +Nature (I. xxiv. Coroll.) ; not in so far as it is infinite, but +in so far as it can be explained by the actual human essence +(III. vii.). Thus the power of man, in so far as it is explained +through his own actual essence, is a part of the infinite power +of God or Nature, in other words, of the essence thereof (I. +xxxiv.). This was our first point. Again, if it were possible, +that man should undergo no changes save such as can be understood +solely through the nature of man, it would follow that he would +not be able to die, but would always necessarily exist ; this +would be the necessary consequence of a cause whose power was +either finite or infinite ; namely, either of man's power only, +inasmuch as he would be capable of removing from himself all +changes which could spring from external causes ; or of the +infinite power of Nature, whereby all individual things would be +so ordered, that man should be incapable of undergoing any +changes save such as tended towards his own preservation. But +the first alternative is absurd (by the last Prop., the proof of +which is universal, and can be applied to all individual things). +Therefore, if it be possible, that man should not be capable of +undergoing any changes, save such as can be explained solely +through his own nature, and consequently that he must always (as +we have shown) necessarily exist ; such a result must follow from +the infinite power of God, and consequently (I. xvi.) from the +necessity of the divine nature, in so far as it is regarded as +affected by the idea of any given man, the whole order of nature +as conceived under the attributes of extension and thought must +be deducible. It would therefore follow (I. xxi.) that man is +infinite, which (by the first part of this proof) is absurd. It +is, therefore, impossible, that man should not undergo any +changes save those whereof he is the adequate cause. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows, that man is necessarily always a +prey to his passions, that he follows and obeys the general order +of nature, and that he accommodates himself thereto, as much as +the nature of things demands. + +PROP. V. The power and increase of every passion, and its +persistence in existing are not defined by the power, whereby we +ourselves endeavour to persist in existing, but by the power of +an external cause compared with our own. + Proof.-The essence of a passion cannot be explained through +our essence alone (III. Deff. i. and ii.), that is (III. vii.), +the power of a passion cannot be defined by the power, whereby we +ourselves endeavour to persist in existing, but (as is shown in +II. xvi.) must necessarily be defined by the power of an external +cause compared with our own. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VI. The force of any passion or emotion can overcome the +rest of a man's activities or power, so that the emotion becomes +obstinately fixed to him. + Proof.-The force and increase of any passion and its +persistence in existing are defined by the power of an external +cause compared with our own (by the foregoing Prop.) ; therefore +(IV. iii.) it can overcome a man's power, &e. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VII. An emotion can only be controlled or destroyed by +another emotion contrary thereto, and with more power for +controlling emotion. + Proof.-Emotion, in so far as it is referred to the mind, is +an idea, whereby the mind affirms of its body a greater or less +force of existence than before (cf. the general Definition of the +Emotions at the end of Part III.). When, therefore, the mind is +assailed by any emotion, the body is at the same time affected +with a modification whereby its power of activity is increased or +diminished. Now this modification of the body (IV. v.) receives +from its cause the force for persistence in its being ; which +force can only be checked or destroyed by a bodily cause (II. +vi.), in virtue of the body being affected with a modification +contrary to (III. v.) and stronger than itself (IV. Ax.) ; +wherefore (II. xii.) the mind is affected by the idea of a +modification contrary to, and stronger than the former +modification, in other words, (by the general definition of the +emotions) the mind will be affected by an emotion contrary to and +stronger than the former emotion, which will exclude or destroy +the existence of the former emotion ; thus an emotion cannot be +destroyed nor controlled except by a contrary and stronger +emotion. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-An emotion, in so far as it is referred to the +mind, can only be controlled or destroyed through an idea of a +modification of the body contrary to, and stronger than, that +which we are undergoing. For the emotion which we undergo can +only be checked or destroyed by an emotion contrary to, and +stronger than, itself, in other words, (by the general Definition +of the Emotions) only by an idea of a modification of the body +contrary to, and stronger than, the modification which we +undergo. + +PROP. VIII. The knowledge of good and evil is nothing else but +the emotions of pleasure or pain, in so far as we are conscious +thereof. + Proof.-We call a thing good or evil, when it is of service or +the reverse in preserving our being (IV. Deff. i. and ii.), that +is (III. vii.), when it increases or diminishes, helps or +hinders, our power of activity. Thus, in so far as we perceive +that a thing affects us with pleasure or pain, we call it good or +evil ; wherefore the knowledge of good and evil is nothing else +but the idea of the pleasure or pain, which necessarily follows +from that pleasurable or painful emotion (II. xxii.). But this +idea is united to the emotion in the same way as mind is united +to body (II. xxi.) ; that is, there is no real distinction +between this idea and the emotion or idea of the modification of +the body, save in conception only. Therefore the knowledge of +good and evil is nothing else but the emotion, in so far as we +are conscious thereof. Q.E.D. + +PROP. IX. An emotion, whereof we conceive the cause to be with +us at the present time, is stronger than if we did not conceive +the cause to be with us. + Proof.-Imagination or conception is the idea, by which the +mind regards a thing as present (II. xvii. note), but which +indicates the disposition of the mind rather than the nature of +the external thing (II. xvi. Coroll. ii.). An emotion is +therefore a conception, in so far as it indicates the disposition +of the body. But a conception (by II. xvii.) is stronger, so +long as we conceive nothing which excludes the present existence +of the external object ; wherefore an emotion is also stronger or +more intense, when we conceive the cause to be with us at the +present time, than when we do not conceive the cause to be with +us. Q.E.D. + Note.-When I said above in III. xviii. that we are affected +by the image of what is past or future with the same emotion as +if the thing conceived were present, I expressly stated, that +this is only true in so far as we look solely to the image of the +thing in question itself ; for the thing's nature is unchanged, +whether we have conceived it or not ; I did not deny that the +image becomes weaker, when we regard as present to us other +things which exclude the present existence of the future object : +I did not expressly call attention to the fact, because I +purposed to treat of the strength of the emotions in this part of +my work. + Corollary.-The image of something past or future, that is, of +a thing which we regard as in relation to time past or time +future, to the exclusion of time present, is, when other +conditions are equal, weaker than the image of something present +; consequently an emotion felt towards what is past or future is +less intense, other conditions being equal, than an emotion felt +towards something present. + +PROP. X. Towards something future, which we conceive as close at +hand, we are affected more intensely, than if we conceive that +its time for existence is separated from the present by a longer +interval ; so too by the remembrance of what we conceive to have +not long passed away we are affected more intensely, than if we +conceive that it has long passed away. + Proof.-In so far as we conceive a thing as close at hand, or +not long passed away, we conceive that which excludes the +presence of the object less, than if its period of future +existence were more distant from the present, or if it had long +passed away (this is obvious) therefore (by the foregoing Prop.) +we are, so far, more intensely affected towards it. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-From the remarks made in Def. vi. of this part it +follows that, if objects are separated from the present by a +longer period than we can define in conception, though their +dates of occurrence be widely separated one from the other, they +all affect us equally faintly. + +PROP. XI. An emotion towards that which we conceive as necessary +is, when other conditions are equal, more intense than an emotion +towards that which possible, or contingent, or non-necessary. + Proof.-In so far as we conceive a thing to be necessary, we, +to that extent, affirm its existence ; on the other hand we deny +a thing's existence, in so far as we conceive it not to be +necessary I. xxxiii. note. i.) ; wherefore (IV. ix.) an emotion +towards that which is necessary is, other conditions being equal, +more intense than an emotion that which is non-necessary. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XII. An emotion towards a thing, which we know not to +exist at the present time, and which we conceive as possible, is +more intense, other conditions being equal, than an emotion +towards a thing contingent. + Proof.-In so far as we conceive a thing as contingent, we are +affected by the conception of some further thing, which would +assert the existence of the former (IV. Def. iii.) ; but, on the +other hand, we (by hypothesis) conceive certain things, which +exclude its present existence. But, in so far as we conceive a +thing to be possible in the future, we there by conceive things +which assert its existence (IV. iv.), that is (III. xviii.), +things which promote hope or fear : wherefore an emotion towards +something possible is more vehement. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-An emotion towards a thing, which we know not to +exist in the present, and which we conceive as contingent, is far +fainter, than if we conceive the thing to be present with us. + Proof.-Emotion towards a thing, which we conceive to exist, +is more intense than it would be, if we conceived the thing as +future (IV. ix. Coroll.), and is much more vehement, than if the +future time be conceived as far distant from the present (IV. +x.). Therefore an emotion towards a thing, whose period of +existence we conceive to be far distant from the present, is far +fainter, than if we conceive the thing as present ; it is, +nevertheless, more intense, than if we conceived the thing as +contingent, wherefore an emotion towards a thing, which we regard +as contingent, will be far fainter, than if we conceived the +thing to be present with us. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIII. Emotion towards a thing contingent, which we know +not to exist in the present, is, other conditions being equal, +fainter than an emotion towards a thing past. + Proof.-In so far as we conceive a thing as contingent, we are +not affected by the image of any other thing, which asserts the +existence of the said thing (IV. Def. iii.), but, on the other +hand (by hypothesis), we conceive certain things excluding its +present existence. But, in so far as we conceive it in relation +to time past, we are assumed to conceive something, which recalls +the thing to memory, or excites the image thereof (II. xviii. and +note), which is so far the same as regarding it as present (II. +xvii. Coroll.). Therefore (IV. ix.) an emotion towards a thing +contingent, which we know does not exist in the present, is +fainter, other conditions being equal, than an emotion towards a +thing past. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIV. A true knowledge of good and evil cannot check any +emotion by virtue of being true, but only in so far as it is +considered as an emotion. + Proof.-An emotion is an idea, whereby the mind affirms of its +body a greater or less force of existing than before (by the +general Definition of the Emotions) ; therefore it has no +positive quality, which can be destroyed by the presence of what +is true ; consequently the knowledge of good and evil cannot, by +virtue of being true, restrain any emotion. But, in so far as +such knowledge is an emotion (IV. viii.) if it have more strength +for restraining emotion, it will to that extent be able to +restrain the given emotion. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XV. Desire arising from the knowledge of good and bad can +be quenched or checked by many of the other desires arising from +the emotions whereby we are assailed. + Proof.-From the true knowledge of good and evil, in so far as +it is an emotion, necessarily arises desire (Def. of the +Emotions, i.), the strength of which is proportioned to the +strength of the emotion wherefrom it arises (III. xxxvii.). But, +inasmuch as this desire arises (by hypothesis) from the fact of +our truly understanding anything, it follows that it is also +present with us, in so far as we are active (III. i.), and must +therefore be understood through our essence only (III. Def. ii.) +; consequently (III. vii.) its force and increase can be defined +solely by human power. Again, the desires arising from the +emotions whereby we are assailed are stronger, in proportion as +the said emotions are more vehement ; wherefore their force and +increase must be defined solely by the power of external causes, +which, when compared with our own power, indefinitely surpass it +(IV. iii.) ; hence the desires arising from like emotions may be +more vehement, than the desire which arises from a true knowledge +of good and evil, and may, consequently, control or quench it. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVI. Desire arising from the knowledge of good and evil, +in so far as such knowledge regards what is future, may be more +easily controlled or quenched, than the desire for what is +agreeable at the present moment. + Proof.-Emotion towards a thing, which we conceive as future, +is fainter than emotion towards a thing that is present (IV. ix. +Coroll.). But desire, which arises from the true knowledge of +good and evil, though it be concerned with things which are good +at the moment, can be quenched or controlled by any headstrong +desire (by the last Prop., the proof whereof is of universal +application). Wherefore desire arising from such knowledge, when +concerned with the future, can be more easily controlled or +quenched, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVII. Desire arising from the true knowledge of good and +evil, in so far as such knowledge is concerned with what is +contingent, can be controlled far more easily still, than desire +for things that are present. + Proof.-This Prop. is proved in the same way as the last Prop. +from IV. xii. Coroll. + Note.-I think I have now shown the reason, why men are moved +by opinion more readily than by true reason, why it is that the +true knowledge of good and evil stirs up conflicts in the soul, +and often yields to every kind of passion. This state of things +gave rise to the exclamation of the poet :12- +"The better path I gaze at and approve, +The worse-I follow." + Ecclesiastes seems to have had the same thought in his mind, +when he says, "He who increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." I +have not written the above with the object of drawing the +conclusion, that ignorance is more excellent than knowledge, or +that a wise man is on a par with a fool in controlling his +emotions, but because it is necessary to know the power and the +infirmity of our nature, before we can determine what reason can +do in restraining the emotions, and what is beyond her power. I +have said, that in the present part I shall merely treat of human +infirmity. The power of reason over the emotions I have settled +to treat separately. + +PROP. XVIII. Desire arising from pleasure is, other conditions +being equal, stronger than desire arising from pain. + Proof.-Desire is the essence of a man (Def. of the Emotions, +i.), that is, the endeavour whereby a man endeavours to persist +in his own being. Wherefore desire arising from pleasure is, by +the fact of pleasure being felt, increased or helped ; on the +contrary, desire arising from pain is, by the fact of pain being +felt, diminished or hindered ; hence the force of desire arising +from pleasure must be defined by human power together with the +power of an external cause, whereas desire arising from pain must +be defined by human power only. Thus the former is the stronger +of the two. Q.E.D. + Note.-In these few remarks I have explained the causes of +human infirmity and inconstancy, and shown why men do not abide +by the precepts of reason. It now remains for me to show what +course is marked out for us by reason, which of the emotions are +in harmony with the rules of human reason, and which of them are +contrary thereto. But, before I begin to prove my Propositions +in detailed geometrical fashion, it is advisable to sketch them +briefly in advance, so that everyone may more readily grasp my +meaning. + As reason makes no demands contrary to nature, it demands, +that every man should love himself, should seek that which is +useful to him-I mean, that which is really useful to him, should +desire everything which really brings man to greater perfection, +and should, each for himself, endeavour as far as he can to +preserve his own being. This is as necessarily true, as that a +whole is greater than its part. (Cf. III. iv.) + Again, as virtue is nothing else but action in accordance +with the laws of one's own nature (IV. Def. viii.), and as no one +endeavours to preserve his own being, except in accordance with +the laws of his own nature, it follows, first, that the +foundation of virtue is the endeavour to preserve one's own +being, and that happiness consists in man's power of preserving +his own being ; secondly, that virtue is to be desired for its +own sake, and that there is nothing more excellent or more useful +to us, for the sake of which we should desire it ; thirdly and +lastly, that suicides are weak-minded, and are overcome by +external causes repugnant to their nature. Further, it follows +from Postulate iv., Part II., that we can never arrive at doing +without all external things for the preservation of our being or +living, so as to have no relations with things which are outside +ourselves. Again, if we consider our mind, we see that our +intellect would be more imperfect, if mind were alone, and could +understand nothing besides itself. There are, then, many things +outside ourselves, which are useful to us, and are, therefore, to +be desired. Of such none can be discerned more excellent, than +those which are in entire agreement with our nature. For if, for +example, two individuals of entirely the same nature are united, +they form a combination twice as powerful as either of them +singly. + Therefore, to man there is nothing more useful than +man-nothing, I repeat, more excellent for preserving their being +can be wished for by men, than that all should so in all points +agree, that the minds and bodies of all should form, as it were, +one single mind and one single body, and that all should, with +one consent, as far as they are able, endeavour to preserve their +being, and all with one consent seek what is useful to them all. +Hence, men who are governed by reason-that is, who seek what is +useful to them in accordance with reason, desire for themselves +nothing, which they do not also desire for the rest of mankind, +and, consequently, are just, faithful, and honourable in their +conduct. + Such are the dictates of reason, which I purposed thus +briefly to indicate, before beginning to prove them in greater +detail. I have taken this course, in order, if possible, to gain +the attention of those who believe, that the principle that every +man is bound to seek what is useful for himself is the foundation +of impiety, rather than of piety and virtue. + Therefore, after briefly showing that the contrary is the +case, I go on to prove it by the same method, as that whereby I +have hitherto proceeded. + +PROP. XIX. Every man, by the laws of his nature, necessarily +desires or shrinks from that which he deems to be good or bad. + Proof.-The knowledge of good and evil is (IV. viii.) the +emotion of pleasure or pain, in so far as we are conscious +thereof ; therefore, every man necessarily desires what he thinks +good, and shrinks from what he thinks bad. Now this appetite is +nothing else but man's nature or essence (Cf. the Definition of +Appetite, III. ix. note, and Def. of the Emotions, i.). +Therefore, every man, solely by the laws of his nature, desires +the one, and shrinks from the other, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XX. The more every man endeavours, and is able to seek +what is useful to him-in other words, to preserve his own +being-the more is he endowed with virtue ; on the contrary, in +proportion as a man neglects to seek what is useful to him, that +is, to preserve his own being, he is wanting in power. + Proof.-Virtue is human power, which is defined solely by +man's essence (IV. Def. viii.), that is, which is defined solely +by the endeavour made by man to persist in his own being. +Wherefore, the more a man endeavours, and is able to preserve his +own being, the more is he endowed with virtue, and, consequently +(III.iv. and vi.), in so far as a man neglects to preserve his +own being, he is wanting in power. Q.E.D. + Note.-No one, therefore, neglects seeking his own good, or +preserving his own being, unless he be overcome by causes +external and foreign to his nature. No one, I say, from the +necessity of his own nature, or otherwise than under compulsion +from external causes, shrinks from food, or kills himself : which +latter may be done in a variety of ways. A man, for instance, +kills himself under the compulsion of another man, who twists +round his right hand, wherewith he happened to have taken up a +sword, and forces him to turn the blade against his own heart ; +or, again, he may be compelled, like Seneca, by a tyrant's +command, to open his own veins-that is, to escape a greater evil +by incurring, a lesser ; or, lastly, latent external causes may +so disorder his imagination, and so affect his body, that it may +assume a nature contrary to its former one, and whereof the idea +cannot exist in the mind (III. x.) But that a man, from the +necessity of his own nature, should endeavour to become +non-existent, is as impossible as that something should be made +out of nothing, as everyone will see for himself, after a little +reflection. + +PROP. XXI. No one can desire to be blessed, to act rightly, and +to live rightly, without at the same time wishing to be, act, and +to live-in other words, to actually exist. + Proof.-The proof of this proposition, or rather the +proposition itself, is self-evident, and is also plain from the +definition of desire. For the desire of living, acting, &c., +blessedly or rightly, is (Def. of the Emotions, i.) the essence +of man-that is (III. vii.), the endeavour made by everyone to +preserve his own being. Therefore, no one can desire, &c. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXII. No virtue can be conceived as prior to this +endeavour to preserve one's own being. + Proof.-The effort for self-preservation is the essence of a +thing (III. vii.) ; therefore, if any virtue could be conceived +as prior thereto, the essence of a thing would have to be +conceived as prior to itself, which is obviously absurd. +Therefore no virtue, &c. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-The effort for self-preservation is the first and +only foundation of virtue. For prior to this principle nothing +can be conceived, and without it no virtue can be conceived. + +PROP. XXIII. Man, in so far as he is determined to a particular +action because he has inadequate ideas, cannot be absolutely said +to act in obedience to virtue ; he can only be so described, in +so far as he is determined for the action because he understands. + Proof.-In so far as a man is determined to an action through +having inadequate ideas, he is passive (III. i.), that is (III. +Deff. i., and iii.), he does something, which cannot be perceived +solely through his essence, that is (by IV. Def. viii.), which +does not follow from his virtue. But, in so far as he is +determined for an action because he understands, he is active ; +that is, he does something, which is perceived through his +essence alone, or which adequately follows from his virtue. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIV. To act absolutely in obedience to virtue is in us +the same thing as to act, to live, or to preserve one's being +(these three terms are identical in meaning) in accordance with +the dictates of reason on the basis of seeking what is useful to +one's self. + Proof.-To act absolutely in obedience to virtue is nothing +else but to act according to the laws of one's own nature. But +we only act, in so far as we understand (III. iii.) : therefore +to act in obedience to virtue is in us nothing else but to act, +to live, or to preserve one's being in obedience to reason, and +that on the basis of seeking what is useful for us (IV. xxii. +Coroll.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXV. No one wishes to preserve his being for the sake of +anything else. + Proof.-The endeavour, wherewith everything endeavours to +persist in its being, is defined solely by the essence of the +thing itself (III. vii.) ; from this alone, and not from the +essence of anything else, it necessarily follows (III. vi.) that +everyone endeavours to preserve his being. Moreover, this +proposition is plain from IV. xxii. Coroll., for if a man should +endeavour to preserve his being for the sake of anything else, +the last-named thing would obviously be the basis of virtue, +which, by the foregoing corollary, is absurd. Therefore no one, +&c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVI. Whatsoever we endeavour in obedience to reason is +nothing further than to understand ; neither does the mind, in so +far as it makes use of reason, judge anything to be useful to it, +save such things as are conducive to understanding. + Proof.-The effort for self-preservation is nothing else but +the essence of the thing in question (III. vii.), which, in so +far as it exists such as it is, is conceived to have force for +continuing in existence (III. vi.) and doing such things as +necessarily follow from its given nature (see the Def. of +Appetite, III. ix. note). But the essence of reason is nought +else but our mind, in so far as it clearly and distinctly +understands (see the definition in II. xl. note. ii.) ; therefore +(II. xl.) whatsoever we endeavour in obedience to reason is +nothing else but to understand. Again, since this effort of the +mind wherewith the mind endeavours, in so far as it reasons, to +preserve its own being is nothing else but understanding ; this +effort at understanding is (IV. xxii. Coroll.) the first and +single basis of virtue, nor shall we endeavour to understand +things for the sake of any ulterior object (IV. xxv.) ; on the +other hand, the mind, in so far as it reasons, will not be able +to conceive any good for itself, save such things as are +conducive to understanding. + +PROP. XXVII. We know nothing to be certainly good or evil, save +such things as really conduce to understanding, or such as are +able to hinder us from understanding. + Proof.-The mind, in so far as it reasons, desires nothing +beyond understanding, and judges nothing to be useful to itself, +save such things as conduce to understanding (by the foregoing +Prop.). But the mind (II. xli., xliii. and note) cannot possess +certainty concerning anything, except in so far as it has +adequate ideas, or (what by II. xl. note, is the same thing) in +so far as it reasons. Therefore we know nothing to be good or +evil save such things as really conduce, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVIII. The mind's highest good is the knowledge of God, +and the mind's highest virtue is to know God. + Proof.-The mind is not capable of understanding anything +higher than God, that is (I. Def. vi.), than a Being absolutely +infinite, and without which (I. xv.) nothing can either be or be +conceived ; therefore (IV. xxvi. and xxvii.), the mind's highest +utility or (IV. Def. i.) good is the knowledge of God. Again, +the mind is active, only in so far as it understands, and only to +the same extent can it be said absolutely to act virtuously. The +mind's absolute virtue is therefore to understand. Now, as we +have already shown, the highest that the mind can understand is +God ; therefore the highest virtue of the mind is to understand +or to know God. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIX. No individual thing, which is entirely different +from our own nature, can help or check our power of activity, and +absolutely nothing can do us good or harm, unless it has +something in common with our nature. + Proof.-The power of every individual thing, and consequently +the power of man, whereby he exists and operates, can only be +determined by an individual thing (I. xxviii.), whose nature (II. +vi.) must be understood through the same nature as that, through +which human nature is conceived. Therefore our power of +activity, however it be conceived, can be determined and +consequently helped or hindered by the power of any other +individual thing, which has something in common with us, but not +by the power of anything, of which the nature is entirely +different from our own ; and since we call good or evil that +which is the cause of pleasure or pain (IV. viii.), that is (III. +xi. note), which increases or diminishes, helps or hinders, our +power of activity ; therefore, that which is entirely different +from our nature can neither be to us good nor bad. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXX. A thing cannot be bad for us through the quality +which it has in common with our nature, but it is bad for us in +so far as it is contrary to our nature. + Proof.-We call a thing bad when it is the cause of pain (IV. +viii.), that is (by the Def., which see in III. xi. note), when +it diminishes or checks our power of action. Therefore, if +anything were bad for us through that quality which it has in +common with our nature, it would be able itself to diminish or +check that which it has in common with our nature, which (III. +iv.) is absurd. Wherefore nothing can be bad for us through that +quality which it has in common with us, but, on the other hand, +in so far as it is bad for us, that is (as we have just shown), +in so far as it can diminish or check our power of action, it is +contrary to our nature. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXI. In so far as a thing is in harmony with our nature, +it is necessarily good. + Proof.-In so far as a thing is in harmony with our nature, it +cannot be bad for it. It will therefore necessarily be either +good or indifferent. If it be assumed that it be neither good +nor bad, nothing will follow from its nature (IV. Def. i.), which +tends to the preservation of our nature, that is (by the +hypothesis), which tends to the preservation of the thing itself +; but this (III. vi.) is absurd ; therefore, in so far as a thing +is in harmony with our nature, it is necessarily good. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows, that, in proportion as a thing +is in harmony with our nature, so is it more useful or better for +us, and vice versâ, in proportion as a thing is more useful for +us, so is it more in harmony with our nature. For, in so far as +it is not in harmony with our nature, it will necessarily be +different therefrom or contrary thereto. If different, it can +neither be good nor bad (IV. xxix.) ; if contrary, it will be +contrary to that which is in harmony with our nature, that is, +contrary to what is good-in short, bad. Nothing, therefore, can +be good, except in so far as it is in harmony with our nature ; +and hence a thing is useful, in proportion as it is in harmony +with our nature, and vice versâ. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXII. In so far as men are a prey to passion, they +cannot, in that respect, be said to be naturally in harmony. + Proof.-Things, which are said to be in harmony naturally, are +understood to agree in power (III. vii.), not in want of power or +negation, and consequently not in passion (III. iii. note) ; +wherefore men, in so far as they are a prey to their passions, +cannot be said to be naturally in harmony. Q.E.D. + Note.-This is also self-evident ; for, if we say that white +and black only agree in the fact that neither is red, we +absolutely affirm that the do not agree in any respect. So, if +we say that a man and a stone only agree in the fact that both +are finite-wanting in power, not existing by the necessity of +their own nature, or, lastly, indefinitely surpassed by the power +of external causes-we should certainly affirm that a man and a +stone are in no respect alike ; therefore, things which agree +only in negation, or in qualities which neither possess, really +agree in no respect. + +PROP. XXXIII. Men can differ in nature, in so far as they are +assailed by those emotions, which are passions, or passive states +; and to this extent one and the same man is variable and +inconstant. + Proof.-The nature or essence of the emotions cannot be +explained solely through our essence or nature (III. Deff. i., +ii.), but it must be defined by +the power, that is (III. vii.), by the nature of external causes +in +comparison with our own ; hence it follows, that there are as +many kinds of +each emotion as there are external objects whereby we are +affected +(III. lvi.), and that men may be differently affected by one and +the same +object (III. li.), and to this extent differ in nature ; lastly, +that one and +the same man may be differently affected towards the same object, +and may +therefore be variable and inconstant. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIV. In so far as men are assailed by emotions which are +passions, they can be contrary one to another. + Proof.-A man, for instance Peter, can be the cause of Paul's +feeling pain, because he (Peter) possesses something similar to +that which Paul hates (III. xvi.), or because Peter has sole +possession of a thing which Paul also loves (III. xxxii. and +note), or for other causes (of which the chief are enumerated in +III. lv. note) ; it may therefore happen that Paul should hate +Peter (Def. of Emotions, vii.), consequently it may easily happen +also, that Peter should hate Paul in return, and that each should +endeavour to do the other an injury, (III. xxxix.), that is (IV. +xxx.), that they should be contrary one to another. But the +emotion of pain is always a passion or passive state (III. lix.) +; hence men, in so far as they are assailed by emotions which are +passions, can be contrary one to another. Q.E.D. + Note.-I said that Paul may hate Peter, because he conceives +that Peter possesses something which he (Paul) also loves ; from +this it seems, at first sight, to follow, that these two men, +through both loving the same thing, and, consequently, through +agreement of their respective natures, stand in one another's way +; if this were so, Props. xxx. and xxxi. of this part would be +untrue. But if we give the matter our unbiased attention, we +shall see that the discrepancy vanishes. For the two men are not +in one another's way in virtue of the agreement of their natures, +that is, through both loving the same thing, but in virtue of one +differing from the other. For, in so far as each loves the same +thing, the love of each is fostered thereby (III. xxxi.), that is +(Def. of the Emotions, vi.) the pleasure of each is fostered +thereby. Wherefore it is far from being the case, that they are +at variance through both loving the same thing, and through the +agreement in their natures. The cause for their opposition lies, +as I have said, solely in the fact that they are assumed to +differ. For we assume that Peter has the idea of the loved +object as already in his possession, while Paul has the idea of +the loved object as lost. Hence the one man will be affected +with pleasure, the other will be affected with pain, and thus +they will be at variance one with another. We can easily show in +like manner, that all other causes of hatred depend solely on +differences, and not on the agreement between men's natures. + +PROP. XXXV. In so far only as men live in obedience to reason, +do they always necessarily agree in nature. + Proof.-In so far as men are assailed by emotions that are +passions, they can be different in nature (IV. xxxiii.), and at +variance one with another. But men are only said to be active, +in so far as they act in obedience to reason (III. iii.) ; +therefore, what so ever follows from human nature in so far as it +is defined by reason must (III. Def. ii.) be understood solely +through human nature as its proximate cause. But, since every +man by the laws of his nature desires that which he deems good, +and endeavours to remove that which he deems bad (IV. xix.) ; and +further, since that which we, in accordance with reason, deem +good or bad, necessarily is good or bad (II. xli.) ; it follows +that men, in so far as they live in obedience to reason, +necessarily do only such things as are necessarily good for human +nature, and consequently for each individual man (IV. xxxi. +Coroll.) ; in other words, such things as are in harmony with +each man's nature. Therefore, men in so far as they live in +obedience to reason, necessarily live always in harmony one with +another. Q.E.D. + Corollary I.-There is no individual thing in nature, which is +more useful to man, than a man who lives in obedience to reason. +For that thing is to man most useful, which is most in harmony +with his nature (IV. xxxi. Coroll.) ; that is, obviously, man. +But man acts absolutely according to the laws of his nature, when +he lives in obedience to reason (III. Def. ii.), and to this +extent only is always necessarily in harmony with the nature of +another man (by the last Prop.) ; wherefore among individual +things nothing is more useful to man, than a man who lives in +obedience to reason. Q.E.D. + Corollary II.-As every man seeks most that which is useful to +him, so are men most useful one to another. For the more a man +seeks what is useful to him and endeavours to preserve himself, +the more is he endowed with virtue (IV. xx.), or, what is the +same thing (IV. Def. viii.), the more is he endowed with power to +act according to the laws of his own nature, that is to live in +obedience to reason. But men are most in natural harmony, when +they live in obedience to reason (by the last Prop.) ; therefore +(by the foregoing Coroll.) men will be most useful one to +another, when each seeks most that which is useful to him. +Q.E.D. + Note.-What we have just shown is attested by experience so +conspicuously, that it is in the mouth of nearly everyone : "Man +is to man a God." Yet it rarely happens that men live in +obedience to reason, for things are so ordered among them, that +they are generally envious and troublesome one to another. +Nevertheless they are scarcely able to lead a solitary life, so +that the definition of man as a social animal has met with +general assent ; in fact, men do derive from social life much +more convenience than injury. Let satirists then laugh their +fill at human affairs, let theologians rail, and let misanthropes +praise to their utmost the life of untutored rusticity, let them +heap contempt on men and praises on beasts ; when all is said, +they will find that men can provide for their wants much more +easily by mutual help, and that only by uniting their forces can +they escape from the dangers that on every side beset them : not +to say how much more excellent and worthy of our knowledge it is, +to study the actions of men than the actions of beasts. But I +will treat of this more at length elsewhere. + +PROP. XXXVI. The highest good of those who follow virtue is +common to all, and therefore all can equally rejoice therein. + Proof.-To act virtuously is to act in obedience with reason +(IV. xxiv.), and whatsoever we endeavour to do in obedience to +reason is to understand (IV. xxvi.) ; therefore (IV. xxviii.) the +highest good for those who follow after virtue is to know God ; +that is (II. xlvii. and note) a good which is common to all and +can be possessed. by all men equally, in so far as they are of +the same nature. Q.E.D. + Note.-Someone may ask how it would be, if the highest good of +those who follow after virtue were not common to all? Would it +not then follow, as above (IV. xxxiv.), that men living in +obedience to reason, that is (IV. xxxv.), men in so far as they +agree in nature, would be at variance one with another? To such +an inquiry, I make answer, that it follows not accidentally but +from the very nature of reason, that main's highest good is +common to all, inasmuch as it is deduced from the very essence of +man, in so far as defined by reason ; and that a man could +neither be, nor be conceived without the power of taking pleasure +in this highest good. For it belongs to the essence of the human +mind (II. xlvii.), to have an adequate knowledge of the eternal +and infinite essence of God. + +PROP. XXXVII. The good which every man, who follows after +virtue, desires for himself he will also desire for other men, +and so much the more, in proportion as he has a greater knowledge +of God. + Proof.-Men, in so far as they live in obedience to reason, +are most useful to their fellow men (IV. xxxv ; Coroll. i.) ; +therefore (IV. xix.), we shall in obedience to reason necessarily +endeavour to bring about that men should live in obedience to +reason. But the good which every man, in so far as he is guided +by reason, or, in other words, follows after virtue, desires for +himself, is to understand (IV. xxvi.) ; wherefore the good, which +each follower of virtue seeks for himself, he will desire also +for others. Again, desire, in so far as it is referred to the +mind, is the very essence of the mind (Def. of the Emotions, i.) +; now the essence of the mind consists in knowledge (II. xi.), +which involves the knowledge of God (II. xlvii.), and without it +(I. xv.), can neither be, nor be conceived ; therefore, in +proportion as the mind's essence involves a greater knowledge of +God, so also will be greater the desire of the follower of +virtue, that other men should possess that which he seeks as good +for himself. Q.E.D. + Another Proof.-The good, which a man desires for himself and +loves, he will love more constantly, if he sees that others love +it also (III. xxxi.) ; he will therefore endeavour that others +should love it also ; and as the good in question is common to +all, and therefore all can rejoice therein, he will endeavour, +for the same reason, to bring about that all should rejoice +therein, and this he will do the more (III. xxxvii.), in +proportion as his own enjoyment of the good is greater. + Note I.-He who, guided by emotion only, endeavours to cause +others to love what he loves himself, and to make the rest of the +world live according to his own fancy, acts solely by impulse, +and is, therefore, hateful, especially, to those who take delight +in something different, and accordingly study and, by similar +impulse, endeavour, to make men live in accordance with what +pleases themselves. Again, as the highest good sought by men +under the guidance of emotion is often such, that it can only be +possessed by a single individual, it follows that those who love +it are not consistent in their intentions, but, while they +delight to sing its praises, fear to be believed. But he, who +endeavours to lead men by reason, does not act by impulse but +courteously and kindly, and his intention is always consistent. +Again, whatsoever we desire and do, whereof we are the cause in +so far as we possess the idea of God, or know God, I set down to +Religion. The desire of well-doing, which is engendered by a +life according to reason, I call piety. Further, the desire, +whereby a man living according to reason is bound to associate +others with himself in friendship, I call honour13 ; by +honourable I mean that which is praised by men living according +to reason, and by base I mean that which is repugnant to the +gaining of friendship. I have also shown in addition what are +the foundations of a state ; and the difference between true +virtue and infirmity may be readily gathered from what I have +said ; namely, that true virtue is nothing else but living in +accordance with reason ; while infirmity is nothing else but +man's allowing himself to be led by things which are external to +himself, and to be by them determined to act in a manner demanded +by the general disposition of things rather than by his own +nature considered solely in itself. + Such are the matters which I engaged to prove in Prop. xviii. +of this Part, whereby it is plain that the law against the +slaughtering of animals is founded rather on vain superstition +and womanish pity than on sound reason. The rational quest of +what is useful to us further teaches us the necessity of +associating ourselves with our fellow men, but not with beasts, +or things, whose nature is different from our own ; we have the +same rights in respect to them as they have in respect to us. +Nay, as everyone's right is defined by his virtue, or power, men +have far greater rights over beasts than beasts have over men. +Still I do not deny that beasts feel : what I deny is, that we +may not consult our own advantage and use them as we please, +treating them in the way which best suits us ; for their nature +is not like ours, and their emotions are naturally different from +human emotions (III. lvii. note). It remains for me to explain +what I mean by just and unjust, sin and merit. On these points +see the following note. + Note II.-In the Appendix to Part I. I undertook to explain +praise and blame, merit and sin, justice and injustice. + Concerning praise and blame I have spoken in III. xxix. note +: the time has now come to treat of the remaining terms. But I +must first say a few words concerning man in the state of nature +and in society. + Every man exists by sovereign natural right, and, +consequently, by sovereign natural right performs those actions +which follow from the necessity of his own nature ; therefore by +sovereign natural right every man judges what is good and what is +bad, takes care of his own advantage according to his own +disposition (IV. xix. and IV. xx.), avenges the wrongs done to +him (III. xl. Coroll. ii.), and endeavours to preserve that which +he loves and to destroy that which he hates (III. xxviii.). Now, +if men lived under the guidance of reason, everyone would remain +in possession of this his right, without any injury being done to +his neighbour (IV. xxxv. Coroll. i.). But seeing that they are a +prey to their emotions, which far surpass human power or virtue +(IV. vi.), they are often drawn in different directions, and +being at variance one with another (IV. xxxiii. xxxiv.), stand in +need of mutual help (IV. xxxv. note). Wherefore, in order that +men may live together in harmony, and may aid one another, it is +necessary that they should forego their natural right, and, for +the sake of security, refrain from all actions which can injure +their fellow-men. The way in which this end can be obtained, so +that men who are necessarily a prey to their emotions (IV. iv. +Coroll.), inconstant, and diverse, should be able to render each +other mutually secure, and feel mutual trust, is evident from IV. +vii. and III. xxxix. It is there shown, that an emotion can only +be restrained by an emotion stronger than, and contrary to +itself, and that men avoid inflicting injury through fear of +incurring a greater injury themselves. + On this law society can be established, so long as it keeps +in its own hand the right, possessed by everyone, of avenging +injury, and pronouncing on good and evil ; and provided it also +possesses the power to lay down a general rule of conduct, and to +pass laws sanctioned, not by reason, which is powerless in +restraining emotion, but by threats (IV. xvii. note). Such a +society established with laws and the power of preserving itself +is called a State, while those who live under its protection are +called citizens. We may readily understand that there is in the +state of nature nothing, which by universal consent is pronounced +good or bad ; for in the state of nature everyone thinks solely +of his own advantage, and according to his disposition, with +reference only to his individual advantage, decides what is good +or bad, being bound by no law to anyone besides himself. + In the state of nature, therefore, sin is inconceivable ; it +can only exist in a state, where good and evil are pronounced on +by common consent, and where everyone is bound to obey the State +authority. Sin, then, is nothing else but disobedience, which is +therefore punished by the right of the State only. Obedience, on +the other hand, is set down as merit, inasmuch as a man is +thought worthy of merit, if he takes delight in the advantages +which a State provides. + Again, in the state of nature, no one is by common consent +master of anything, nor is there anything in nature, which can be +said to belong to one man rather than another : all things are +common to all. Hence, in the state of nature, we can conceive no +wish to render to every man his own, or to deprive a man of that +which belongs to him ; in other words, there is nothing in the +state of nature answering to justice and injustice. Such ideas +are only possible in a social state, when it is decreed by common +consent what belongs to one man and what to another. + From all these considerations it is evident, that justice and +injustice, sin and merit, are extrinsic ideas, and not attributes +which display the nature of the mind. But I have said enough. + +PROP. XXXVIII. Whatsoever disposes the human body, so as to +render it capable of being affected in an increased number of +ways, or of affecting external bodies in an increased number of +ways, is useful to man ; and is so, in proportion as the body is +thereby rendered more capable of being affected or affecting +other bodies in an increased number of ways ; contrariwise, +whatsoever renders the body less capable in this respect is +hurtful to man. + Proof.-Whatsoever thus increases the capabilities of the body +increases also the mind's capability of perception (II. xiv.) ; +therefore, whatsoever thus disposes the body and thus renders it +capable, is necessarily good or useful (IV. xxvi. xxvii.) ; and +is so in proportion to the extent to which it can render the body +capable ; contrariwise (II. xiv., IV. xxvi. xxvii.), it is +hurtful, if it renders the body in this respect less capable. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXIX. Whatsoever brings about the preservation of the +proportion of motion and rest, which the parts of the human body +mutually possess, is good ; contrariwise, whatsoever causes a +change in such proportion is bad. + Proof.-The human body needs many other bodies for its +preservation (II. Post. iv.). But that which constitutes the +specific reality (forma) of a human body is, that its parts +communicate their several motions one to another in a certain +fixed proportion (Def. before Lemma iv. after II. xiii.). +Therefore, whatsoever brings about the preservation of the +proportion between motion and rest, which the parts of the human +body mutually possess, preserves the specific reality of the +human body, and consequently renders the human body capable of +being affected in many ways and of affecting external bodies in +many ways ; consequently it is good (by the last Prop.). Again, +whatsoever brings about a change in the aforesaid proportion +causes the human body to assume another specific character, in +other words (see Preface to this Part towards the end, though the +point is indeed self-evident), to be destroyed, and consequently +totally incapable of being affected in an increased numbers of +ways ; therefore it is bad. Q.E.D. + Note.-The extent to which such causes can injure or be of +service to the mind will be explained in the Fifth Part. But I +would here remark that I consider that a body undergoes death, +when the proportion of motion and rest which obtained mutually +among its several parts is changed. For I do not venture to deny +that a human body, while keeping the circulation of the blood and +other properties, wherein the life of a body is thought to +consist, may none the less be changed into another nature totally +different from its own. There is no reason, which compels me to +maintain that a body does not die, unless it becomes a corpse ; +nay, experience would seem to point to the opposite conclusion. +It sometimes happens, that a man undergoes such changes, that I +should hardly call him the same. As I have heard tell of a +certain Spanish poet, who had been seized with sickness, and +though he recovered therefrom yet remained so oblivious of his +past life, that he would not believe the plays and tragedies he +had written to be his own : indeed, he might have been taken for +a grown-up child, if he had also forgotten his native tongue. If +this instance seems incredible, what shall we say of infants? A +man of ripe age deems their nature so unlike his own, that he can +only be persuaded that he too has been an infant by the analogy +of other men. However, I prefer to leave such questions +undiscussed, lest I should give ground to the superstitious for +raising new issues. + +PROP. XL. Whatsoever conduces to man's social life, or causes +men to live together in harmony, is useful, whereas whatsoever +brings discord into a State is bad. + Proof.-For whatsoever causes men to live together in harmony +also causes them to live according to reason (IV. xxxv.), and is +therefore (IV. xxvi. xxvii.) good, and (for the same reason) +whatsoever brings about discord is bad. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLI. Pleasure in itself is not bad but good : +contrariwise, pain in itself is bad. + Proof.-Pleasure (III. xi. and note) is emotion, whereby the +body's power of activity is increased or helped ; pain is +emotion, whereby the body's power of activity is diminished or +checked ; therefore (IV. xxxviii.) pleasure in itself is good, +&c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLII. Mirth cannot be excessive, but is always good ; +contrariwise, Melancholy is always bad. + Proof.-Mirth (see its Def. in III. xi. note) is pleasure, +which, in so far as it is referred to the body, consists in all +parts of the body being affected equally : that is (III. xi.), +the body's power of activity is increased or aided in such a +manner, that the several parts maintain their former proportion +of motion and rest ; therefore Mirth is always good (IV. xxxix.), +and cannot be excessive. But Melancholy (see its Def. in the +same note to III. xi.) is pain, which, in so far as it is +referred to the body, consists in the absolute decrease or +hindrance of the body's power of activity ; therefore (IV. +xxxviii.) it is always bad. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIII. Stimulation may be excessive and bad ; on the other +hand, grief may be good, in so far as stimulation or pleasure is +bad. + Proof.-Localized pleasure or stimulation (titillatio) is +pleasure, which, in so far as it is referred to the body, +consists in one or some of its parts being affected more than the +rest (see its Definition, III. xi. note) ; the power of this +emotion may be sufficient to overcome other actions of the body +(IV. vi.), and may remain obstinately fixed therein, thus +rendering it incapable of being affected in a variety of other +ways : therefore (IV. xxxviii.) it may be bad. Again, grief, +which is pain, cannot as such be good (IV. xli.). But, as its +force and increase is defined by the power of an external cause +compared with our own (IV. v.), we can conceive infinite degrees +and modes of strength in this emotion (IV. iii.) ; we can, +therefore, conceive it as capable of restraining stimulation, and +preventing its becoming excessive, and hindering the body's +capabilities ; thus, to this extent, it will be good. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIV. Love and desire may be excessive. + Proof.-Love is pleasure, accompanied by the idea of an +external cause (Def. of Emotions, vi.) ; therefore stimulation, +accompanied by the idea of an external cause is love (III. xi. +note) ; hence love maybe excessive. Again, the strength of +desire varies in proportion to the emotion from which it arises +(III. xxxvii.). Now emotion may overcome all the rest of men's +actions (IV. vi.) ; so, therefore, can desire, which arises from +the same emotion, overcome all other desires, and become +excessive, as we showed in the last proposition concerning +stimulation. + Note.-Mirth, which I have stated to be good, can be conceived +more easily than it can be observed. For the emotions, whereby +we are daily assailed, are generally referred to some part of the +body which is affected more than the rest ; hence the emotions +are generally excessive, and so fix the mind in the contemplation +of one object, that it is unable to think of others ; and +although men, as a rule, are a prey to many emotions-and very few +are found who are always assailed by one and the same-yet there +are cases, where one and the same emotion remains obstinately +fixed. We sometimes see men so absorbed in one object, that, +although it be not present, they think they have it before them ; +when this is the case with a man who is not asleep, we say he is +delirious or mad ; nor are those persons who are inflamed with +love, and who dream all night and all day about nothing but their +mistress, or some woman, considered as less mad, for they are +made objects of ridicule. But when a miser thinks of nothing but +gain or money, or when an ambitious man thinks of nothing but +glory, they are not reckoned to be mad, because they are +generally harmful, and are thought worthy of being hated. But, +in reality, Avarice, Ambition, Lust, &c., are species of madness, +though they may not be reckoned among diseases. + +PROP. XLV. Hatred can never be good. + Proof.-When we hate a man, we endeavour to destroy him (III. +xxxix.), that is (IV. xxxvii.), we endeavour to do something that +is bad. Therefore, &c. Q.E.D. + N.B. Here, and in what follows, I mean by hatred only hatred +towards men. + Corollary I.-Envy, derision, contempt, anger, revenge, and +other emotions attributable to hatred, or arising therefrom, are +bad ; this is evident from III. xxxix. and IV. xxxvii. + Corollary II.-Whatsoever we desire from motives of hatred is +base, and in a State unjust. This also is evident from III. +xxxix., and from the definitions of baseness and injustice in IV. +xxxvii. note. + Note.-Between derision (which I have in Coroll. I. stated to +be bad) and laughter I recognize a great difference. For +laughter, as also jocularity, is merely pleasure ; therefore, so +long as it be not excessive, it is in itself good (IV. xli.). +Assuredly nothing forbids man to enjoy himself, save grim and +gloomy superstition. For why is it more lawful to satiate one's +hunger and thirst than to drive away one's melancholy? I reason, +and have convinced myself as follows : No deity, nor anyone else, +save the envious, takes pleasure in my infirmity and discomfort, +nor sets down to my virtue the tears, sobs, fear, and the like, +which axe signs of infirmity of spirit ; on the contrary, the +greater the pleasure wherewith we are affected, the greater the +perfection whereto we pass ; in other words, the more must we +necessarily partake of the divine nature. Therefore, to make use +of what comes in our way, and to enjoy it as much as possible +(not to the point of satiety, for that would not be enjoyment) is +the part of a wise man. I say it is the part of a wise man to +refresh and recreate himself with moderate and pleasant food and +drink, and also with perfumes, with the soft beauty of growing +plants, with dress, with music, with many sports, with theatres, +and the like, such as every man may make use of without injury to +his neighbour. For the human body is composed of very numerous +parts, of diverse nature, which continually stand in need of +fresh and varied nourishment, so that the whole body may be +equally capable of performing all the actions, which follow from +the necessity of its own nature ; and, consequently, so that the +mind may also be equally capable of understanding many things +simultaneously. This way of life, then, agrees best with our +principles, and also with general practice ; therefore, if there +be any question of another plan, the plan we have mentioned is +the best, and in every way to be commended. There is no need for +me to set forth the matter more clearly or in more detail. + +PROP. XLVI. He, who lives under the guidance of reason, +endeavours, as far as possible, to render back love, or kindness, +for other men's hatred, anger, contempt, &c., towards him. + Proof.-All emotions of hatred are bad (IV. xlv. Coroll. i.) ; +therefore he who lives under the guidance of reason will +endeavour, as far as possible, to avoid being assailed by such +emotions (IV. xix.) ; consequently, he will also endeavour to +prevent others being so assailed (IV. xxxvii.). But hatred is +increased by being reciprocated, and can be quenched by love +(III. xliii.), so that hatred may pass into love (III. xliv.) ; +therefore he who lives under the guidance of reason will +endeavour to repay hatred with love, that is, with kindness. +Q.E.D. + Note.-He who chooses to avenge wrongs with hatred is +assuredly wretched. But he, who strives to conquer hatred with +love, fights his battle in joy and confidence ; he withstands +many as easily as one, and has very little need of fortune's aid. +Those whom he vanquishes yield joyfully, not through failure, but +through increase in their powers ; all these consequences follow +so plainly from the mere definitions of love and understanding, +that I have no need to prove them in detail. + +PROP. XLVII. Emotions of hope and fear cannot be in themselves +good. + Proof.-Emotions of hope and fear cannot exist without pain. +For fear is pain (Def. of the Emotions, xiii.), and hope (Def. of +the Emotions, Explanation xii. and xiii.) cannot exist without +fear ; therefore (IV. xli.) these emotions cannot be good in +themselves, but only in so far as they can restrain excessive +pleasure (IV. xliii.). Q.E.D. + Note.-We may add, that these emotions show defective +knowledge and an absence of power in the mind ; for the same +reason confidence, despair, joy, and disappointment are signs of +a want of mental power. For although confidence and joy are +pleasurable emotions, they nevertheless imply a preceding pain, +namely, hope and fear. Wherefore the more we endeavour to be +guided by reason, the less do we depend on hope ; we endeavour to +free ourselves from fear, and, as far as we can, to dominate +fortune, directing our actions by the sure counsels of wisdom. + +PROP. XLVIII. The emotions of over-esteem and disparagement are +always bad. + Proof.-These emotions (see Def. of the Emotions, xxi. xxii.) +are repugnant to reason ; and are therefore (IV. xxvi. xxvii.) +bad. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XLIX. Over-esteem is apt to render its object proud. + Proof.-If we see that any one rates us too highly, for love's +sake, we are apt to become elated (III. xli.), or to be +pleasurably affected (Def. of the Emotions, xxx.) ; the good +which we hear of ourselves we readily believe (III. xxv.) ; and +therefore, for love's sake, rate ourselves too highly ; in other +words, we are apt to become proud. Q.E.D. + +PROP. L. Pity, in a man who lives under the guidance of reason, +is in itself bad and useless. + Proof.-Pity (Def. of the Emotions, xviii.) is a pain, and +therefore (IV. xli.) is in itself bad. The good effect which +follows, namely, our endeavour to free the object of our pity +from misery, is an action which we desire to do solely at the +dictation of reason (IV. xxxvii.) ; only at the dictation of +reason are we able to perform any action, which we know for +certain to be good (IV. xxvii.) ; thus, in a man who lives under +the guidance of reason, pity in itself is useless and bad. +Q.E.D. + Note.-He who rightly realizes, that all things follow from +the necessity of the divine nature, and come to pass in +accordance with the eternal laws and rules of nature, will not +find anything worthy of hatred, derision, or contempt, nor will +he bestow pity on anything, but to the utmost extent of human +virtue he will endeavour to do well, as the saying is, and to +rejoice. We may add, that he, who is easily touched with +compassion, and is moved by another's sorrow or tears, often does +something which he afterwards regrets ; partly because we can +never be sure that an action caused by emotion is good, partly +because we are easily deceived by false tears. I am in this +place expressly speaking of a man living under the guidance of +reason. He who is moved to help others neither by reason nor by +compassion, is rightly styled inhuman, for (III. xxvii.) he seems +unlike a man. + +PROP. LI. Approval is not repugnant to reason, but can agree +therewith and arise therefrom. + Proof.-Approval is love towards one who has done good to +another (Def. of the Emotions, xix.) ; therefore it may be +referred to the mind, in so far as the latter is active (III. +lix.), that is (III. iii.), in so far as it understands ; +therefore, it is in agreement with reason, &c. Q.E.D. + Another Proof.-He, who lives under the guidance of reason, +desires for others the good which he seeks for himself (IV. +xxxvii.) ; wherefore from seeing someone doing good to his fellow +his own endeavour to do good is aided ; in other words, he will +feel pleasure (III. xi. note) accompanied by the idea of the +benefactor. Therefore he approves of him. Q.E.D. + Note.-Indignation as we defined it (Def. of the Emotions, +xx.) is necessarily evil (IV. xlv.) ; we may, however, remark +that, when the sovereign power for the sake of preserving peace +punishes a citizen who has injured another, it should not be said +to be indignant with the criminal, for it is not incited by +hatred to ruin him, it is led by a sense of duty to punish him. + +PROP. LII. Self-approval may arise from reason, and that which +arises from reason is the highest possible. + Proof.-Self-approval is pleasure arising from a man's +contemplation of himself and his own power of action (Def. of the +Emotions, xxv.). But a man's true power of action or virtue is +reason herself (III. iii.), as the said man clearly and +distinctly contemplates her (II. xl. xliii.) ; therefore +self-approval arises from reason. Again, when a man is +contemplating himself, he only perceived clearly and distinctly +or adequately, such things as follow from his power of action +(III. Def. ii.), that is (III. iii.), from his power of +understanding ; therefore in such contemplation alone does the +highest possible self-approval arise. Q.E.D. + Note.-Self-approval is in reality the highest object for +which we can hope. For (as we showed in IV. xxv.) no one +endeavours to preserve his being for the sake of any ulterior +object, and, as this approval is more and more fostered and +strengthened by praise (III. liii. Coroll.), and on the contrary +(III. lv. Coroll.) is more and more disturbed by blame, fame +becomes the most powerful of incitements to action, and life +under disgrace is almost unendurable. + +PROP. LIII. Humility is not a virtue, or does not arise from +reason. + Proof.-Humility is pain arising from a man's contemplation of +his own infirmities (Def. of the Emotions, xxvi.). But, in so +far as a man knows himself by true reason, he is assumed to +understand his essence, that is, his power (III. vii.). +Wherefore, if a man in self-contemplation perceives any infirmity +in himself, it is not by virtue of his understanding himself, but +(III. lv.) by virtue of his power of activity being checked. +But, if we assume that a man perceives his own infirmity by +virtue of understanding something stronger than himself, by the +knowledge of which he determines his own power of activity, this +is the same as saying that we conceive that a man understands +himself distinctly (IV. xxvi.), because14 his power of activity +is aided. Wherefore humility, or the pain which arises from a +man's contemplation of his own infirmity, does not arise from the +contemplation or reason, and is not a virtue but a passion. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. LIV. Repentance is not a virtue, or does not arise from +reason ; but he who repents of an action is doubly wretched or +infirm. + Proof.-The first part of this proposition is proved like the +foregoing one. The second part is proved from the mere +definition of the emotion in question (Def. of the Emotions, +xxvii.). For the man allows himself to be overcome, first, by +evil desires ; secondly, by pain. + Note.-As men seldom live under the guidance of reason, these +two emotions, namely, Humility and Repentance, as also Hope and +Fear, bring more good than harm ; hence, as we must sin, we had +better sin in that direction. For, if all men who are a prey to +emotion were all equally proud, they would shrink from nothing, +and would fear nothing ; how then could they be joined and linked +together in bonds of union? The crowd plays the tyrant, when it +is not in fear ; hence we need not wonder that the prophets, who +consulted the good, not of a few, but of all, so strenuously +commended Humility, Repentance, and Reverence. Indeed those who +are a prey to these emotions may be led much more easily than +others to live under the guidance of reason, that is, to become +free and to enjoy the life of the blessed. + +PROP. LV. Extreme pride or dejection indicates extreme ignorance +of self. + Proof.-This is evident from Def. of the Emotions, xxviii. and +xxix. + +PROP. LVI. Extreme pride or dejection indicates extreme +infirmity of spirit. + Proof.-The first foundation of virtue is self-preservation +(IV. xxii. Coroll.) under the guidance of reason (IV. xxiv.). +He, therefore, who is ignorant of himself, is ignorant of the +foundation of all virtues, and consequently of all virtues. +Again, to act virtuously is merely to act under the guidance of +reason (IV. xxiv.) : now he, that acts under the guidance of +reason, must necessarily know that he so acts (II. xliii.). +Therefore he who is in extreme ignorance of himself, and +consequently of all virtues, acts least in obedience to virtue ; +in other words (IV. Def. viii.), is most infirm of spirit. Thus +extreme pride or dejection indicates extreme infirmity of spirit. +Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it most clearly follows, that the proud and +the dejected specially fall a prey to the emotions. + Note.-Yet dejection can be more easily corrected than pride ; +for the latter being a pleasurable emotion, and the former a +painful emotion, the pleasurable is stronger than the painful +(IV. xviii.). + +PROP. LVII. The proud man delights in the company of flatterers +and parasites, but hates the company of the high-minded. + Proof.-Pride is pleasure arising from a man's over estimation +of himself (Def. of the Emotions, xxviii. and vi.) ; this +estimation the proud man will endeavour to foster by all the +means in his power (III. xiii. note) ; he will therefore delight +in the company of flatterers and parasites (whose character is +too well known to need definition here), and will avoid the +company of high-minded men, who value him according to his +deserts. Q.E.D. + Note.-It would be too long a task to enumerate here all the +evil results of pride, inasmuch as the proud are a prey to all +the emotions, though to none of them less than to love and pity. +I cannot, however, pass over in silence the fact, that a man may +be called proud from his underestimation of other people ; and, +therefore, pride in this sense may be defined as pleasure arising +from the false opinion, whereby a man may consider himself +superior to his fellows. The dejection, which is the opposite +quality to this sort of pride, may be defined as pain arising +from the false opinion, whereby a man may think himself inferior +to his fellows. Such being the ease, we can easily see that a +proud man is necessarily envious (III. xli. note), and only takes +pleasure in the company, who fool his weak mind to the top of his +bent, and make him insane instead of merely foolish. + Though dejection is the emotion contrary to pride, yet is the +dejected man very near akin to the proud man. For, inasmuch as +his pain arises from a comparison between his own infirmity and +other men's power or virtue, it will be removed, or, in other +words, he will feel pleasure, if his imagination be occupied in +contemplating other men's faults ; whence arises the proverb, +"The unhappy are comforted by finding fellow-sufferers." +Contrariwise, he will be the more pained in proportion as he +thinks himself inferior to others ; hence none are so prone to +envy as the dejected, they are specially keen in observing men's +actions, with a view to fault-finding rather than correction, in +order to reserve their praises for dejection, and to glory +therein, though all the time with a dejected air. These effects +follow as necessarily from the said emotion, as it follows from +the nature of a triangle, that the three angles are equal to two +right angles. I have already said that I call these and similar +emotions bad, solely in respect to what is useful to man. The +laws of nature have regard to nature's general order, whereof man +is but a part. I mention this, in passing, lest any should think +that I have wished to set forth the faults and irrational deeds +of men rather than the nature and properties of things. For, as +I said in the preface to the third Part, I regard human emotions +and their properties as on the same footing with other natural +phenomena. Assuredly human emotions indicate the power and +ingenuity, of nature, if not of human nature, quite as fully as +other things which we admire, and which we delight to +contemplate. But I pass on to note those qualities in the +emotions, which bring advantage to man, or inflict injury upon +him. + +PROP. LVIII. Honour (gloria) is not repugnant to reason, but may +arise therefrom. + Proof.-This is evident from Def. of the Emotions, xxx., and +also from the definition of an honourable man (IV. xxxvii. note. +i.). + Note-Empty honour, as it is styled, is self- approval, +fostered only by the good opinion of the populace ; when this +good opinion ceases there ceases also the self-approval, in other +words, the highest object of each man's love (IV. lii. note) ; +consequently, he whose honour is rooted in popular approval must, +day by day, anxiously strive, act, and scheme in order to retain +his reputation. For the populace is variable and inconstant, so +that, if a reputation be not kept up, it quickly withers away. +Everyone wishes to catch popular applause for himself, and +readily represses the fame of others. The object of the strife +being estimated as the greatest of all goods, each combatant is +seized with a fierce desire to put down his rivals in every +possible way, till he who at last comes out victorious is more +proud of having done harm to others than of having done good to +himself. This sort of honour, then, is really empty, being +nothing. + The points to note concerning shame may easily be inferred +from what was said on the subject of mercy and repentance. I +will only add that shame, like compassion, though not a virtue, +is yet good, in so far as it shows, that the feeler of shame is +really imbued with the desire to live honourably ; in the same +way as suffering is good, as showing that the injured part is not +mortified. Therefore, though a man who feels shame is sorrowful, +he is yet more perfect than he, who is shameless, and has no +desire to live honourably. + Such are the points which I undertook to remark upon +concerning the emotions of pleasure and pain ; as for the +desires, they are good or bad according as they spring from good +or evil emotions. But all, in so far as they are engendered in +us by emotions wherein the mind is passive, are blind (as is +evident from what was said in IV. xliv. note), and would be +useless, if men could easily, be induced to live by the guidance +of reason only, as I will now briefly, show. + +PROP. LIX. To all the actions, whereto we are determined by +emotion wherein the mind is passive ; we can be determined +without emotion by reason. + Proof.-To act rationally, is nothing else (III. iii. and Def. +ii.) but to perform those actions, which follow from the +necessity, of our nature considered in itself alone. But pain is +bad, in so far as it diminishes or checks the power of action +(IV. xli.) ; wherefore we cannot by pain be determined to any +action, which we should be unable to perform under the guidance +of reason. Again, pleasure is bad only in so far as it hinders a +man's capability for action (IV. xli. xliii.) ; therefore to this +extent we could not be determined by it to any action, which we +could not perform under the guidance of reason. Lastly, +pleasure, in so far as it is good, is in harmony with reason (for +it consists in the fact that a man's capability for action is +increased or aided) ; nor is the mind passive therein, except in +so far as a man's power of action is not increased to the extent +of affording him an adequate conception of himself and his +actions (III. iii., and note). + Wherefore, if a man who is pleasurably affected be brought to +such a state of perfection, that he gains an adequate conception +of himself and his own actions, he will be equally, nay more, +capable of those actions, to which he is determined by emotion +wherein the mind is passive. But all emotions are attributable +to pleasure, to pain, or to desire (Def. of the Emotions, iv. +explanation) ; and desire (Def. of the Emotions, i.) is nothing +else but the attempt to act ; therefore, to all actions, &c. +Q.E.D. + Another Proof.-A given action is called bad, in so far as it +arises from one being affected by hatred or any evil emotion. +But no action, considered in itself alone, is either good or bad +(as we pointed out in the preface to Pt. IV.), one and the same +action being sometimes good, sometimes bad ; wherefore to the +action which is sometimes bad, or arises from some evil emotion, +we may be led by reason (IV. xix.). Q.E.D. + Note.-An example will put this point in a clearer light. The +action of striking, in so far as it is considered physically, and +in so far as we merely look to the fact that a man raises his +arm, clenches his fist, and moves his whole arm violently +downwards, is a virtue or excellence which is conceived as proper +to the structure of the human body. If, then, a man, moved by +anger or hatred, is led to clench his fist or to move his arm, +this result takes place (as we showed in Pt. II.), because one +and the same action can be associated with various mental images +of things ; therefore we may be determined to the performance of +one and the same action by confused ideas, or by clear and +distinct ideas. Hence it is evident that every desire which +springs from emotion, wherein the mind is passive, would become +useless, if men could be guided by reason. Let us now see why +desire which arises from emotion, wherein the mind is passive, is +called by us blind. + +PROP. LX. Desire arising from a pleasure or pain, that is not +attributable to the whole body, but only to one or certain parts +thereof, is without utility in respect to a man as a whole. + Proof.-Let it be assumed, for instance, that A, a part of a +body, is so strengthened by some external cause, that it prevails +over the remaining parts (IV. vi.). This part will not endeavour +to do away with its own powers, in order that the other parts of +the body may perform its office ; for this it would be necessary +for it to have a force or power of doing away with its own +powers, which (III. vi.) is absurd. The said part, and, +consequently, the mind also, will endeavour to preserve its +condition. Wherefore desire arising from a pleasure of the kind +aforesaid has no utility in reference to a man as a whole. If it +be assumed, on the other hand, that the part, A, be checked so +that the remaining parts prevail, it may be proved in the same +manner that desire arising from pain has no utility in respect to +a man as a whole. Q.E.D. + Note.-As pleasure is generally (IV. xliv. note) attributed to +one part of the body, we generally desire to preserve our being +with out taking into consideration our health as a whole : to +which it may be added, that the desires which have most hold over +us (IV. ix.) take account of the present and not of the future. + +PROP. LXI. Desire which springs from reason cannot be excessive. + Proof.-Desire (Def. of the Emotions, i.) considered +absolutely is the actual essence of man, in so far as it is +conceived as in any way determined to a particular activity by +some given modification of itself. Hence desire, which arises +from reason, that is (III. iii.), which is engendered in us in so +far as we act, is the actual essence or nature of man, in so far +as it is conceived as determined to such activities as are +adequately conceived through man's essence only (III. Def. ii.). +Now, if such desire could be excessive, human nature considered +in itself alone would be able to exceed itself, or would be able +to do more than it can, a manifest contradiction. Therefore, +such desire cannot be excessive. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LXII. In so far as the mind conceives a thing under the +dictates of reason, it is affected equally, whether the idea be +of a thing future, past, or present. + Proof.-Whatsoever the mind conceives under the guidance of +reason, it conceives under the form of eternity or necessity (II. +xliv. Coroll. ii.), and is therefore affected with the same +certitude (II. xliii. and note). Wherefore, whether the thing be +present, past, or future, the mind conceives it under the same +necessity and is affected with the same certitude ; and whether +the idea be of something present, past, or future, it will in all +cases be equally true (II. xli.) ; that is, it will always +possess the same properties of an adequate idea (II. Def. iv.) ; +therefore, in so far as the mind conceives things under the +dictates of reason, it is affected in the same manner, whether +the idea be of a thing future, past, or present. Q.E.D. + Note.-If we could possess an adequate knowledge of the +duration of things, and could determine by reason their periods +of existence, we should contemplate things future with the same +emotion as things present ; and the mind would desire as though +it were present the good which it conceived as future ; +consequently it would necessarily neglect a lesser good in the +present for the sake of a greater good in the future, and would +in no wise desire that which is good in the present but a source +of evil in the future, as we shall presently show. However, we +can have but a very inadequate knowledge of the duration of +things (II. xxxi.) ; and the periods of their existence (II. +xliv. note.) we can only determine by imagination, which is not +so powerfully affected by the future as by the present. Hence +such true knowledge of good and evil as we possess is merely +abstract or general, and the judgment which we pass on the order +of things and the connection of causes, with a view to +determining what is good or bad for us in the present, is rather +imaginary than real. Therefore it is nothing wonderful, if the +desire arising from such knowledge of good and evil, in so far as +it looks on into the future, be more readily checked than the +desire of things which are agreeable at the present time. (Cf. +IV. xvi.) + +PROP. LXIII. He who is led by fear, and does good in order to +escape evil, is not led by reason. + Proof.-All the emotions which are attributable to the mind as +active, or in other words to reason, are emotions of pleasure and +desire (III. lix.) ; therefore, he who is led by fear, and does +good in order to escape evil, is not led by reason. + Note.-Superstitions persons, who know better how to rail at +vice than how to teach virtue, and who strive not to guide men by +reason, but so to restrain them that they would rather escape +evil than love virtue, have no other aim but to make others as +wretched as themselves ; wherefore it is nothing wonderful, if +they be generally troublesome and odious to their fellow-men. + Corollary.-Under desire which springs from reason, we seek +good directly, and shun evil indirectly. + Proof.-Desire which springs from reason can only spring from +a pleasurable emotion, wherein the mind is not passive (III. +lix.), in other words, from a pleasure which cannot be excessive +(IV. lxi.), and not from pain ; wherefore this desire springs +from the knowledge of good, not of evil (IV. viii.) ; hence under +the guidance of reason we seek good directly and only by +implication shun evil. Q.E.D. + Note.-This Corollary may be illustrated by the example of a +sick and a healthy man. The sick man through fear of death eats +what he naturally shrinks from, but the healthy man takes +pleasure in his food, and thus gets a better enjoyment out of +life, than if he were in fear of death, and desired directly to +avoid it. So a judge, who condemns a criminal to death, not from +hatred or anger but from love of the public well-being, is guided +solely by reason. + +PROP. LXIV. The knowledge of evil is an inadequate knowledge. + Proof.-The knowledge of evil (IV. viii.) is pain, in so far +as we are conscious thereof. Now pain is the transition to a +lesser perfection (Def. of the Emotions, iii.) and therefore +cannot be understood through man's nature (III. vi., and vii.) ; +therefore it is a passive state (III. Def. ii.) which (III. iii.) +depends on inadequate ideas ; consequently the knowledge thereof +(II. xxix.), namely, the knowledge of evil, is inadequate. +Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that, if the human mind possessed +only adequate ideas, it would form no conception of evil. + +PROP. LXV. Under the guidance of reason we should pursue the +greater of two goods and the lesser of two evils. + Proof.-A good which prevents our enjoyment of a greater good +is in reality an evil ; for we apply the terms good and bad to +things, in so far as we compare them one with another (see +preface to this Part) ; therefore, evil is in reality a lesser +good ; hence under the guidance of reason we seek or pursue only +the greater good and the lesser evil. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-We may, under the guidance of reason, pursue the +lesser evil as though it were the greater good, and we may shun +the lesser good, which would be the cause of the greater evil. +For the evil, which is here called the lesser, is really good, +and the lesser good is really evil, wherefore we may seek the +former and shun the latter. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LXVI. We may, under the guidance of reason, seek a greater +good in the future in preference to a lesser good in the present, +and we may seek a lesser evil in the present in preference to a +greater evil in the future.15 + Proof.-If the mind could have an adequate knowledge of things +future, it would be affected towards what is future in the same +way as towards what is present (IV. lxii.) ; wherefore, looking +merely to reason, as in this proposition we are assumed to do, +there is no difference, whether the greater good or evil be +assumed as present, or assumed as future ; hence (IV. lxv.) we +may seek a greater good in the future in preference to a lesser +good in the present, &c. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-We may, under the guidance of reason, seek a +lesser evil in the present, because it is the cause of a greater +good in the future, and we may shun a lesser good in the present, +because it is the cause of a greater evil in the future. This +Corollary is related to the foregoing Proposition as the +Corollary to IV. lxv. is related to the said IV. lxv. + Note.-If these statements be compared with what we have +pointed out concerning the strength of the emotions in this Part +up to Prop. xviii., we shall readily see the difference between a +man, who is led solely by emotion or opinion, and a man, who is +led by reason. The former, whether will or no, performs actions +whereof he is utterly ignorant ; the latter is his own master and +only performs such actions, as he knows are of primary importance +in life, and therefore chiefly desires ; wherefore I call the +former a slave, and the latter a free man, concerning whose +disposition and manner of life it will be well to make a few +observations. + +PROP. LXVII. A free man thinks of death least of all things ; +and his wisdom is a meditation not of death but of life. + Proof.-A free man is one who lives under the guidance of +reason, who is not led by fear (IV. lxiii.), but who directly +desires that which is good (IV. lxiii. Coroll.), in other words +(IV. xxiv.), who strives to act, to live, and to preserve his +being on the basis of seeking his own true advantage ; wherefore +such an one thinks of nothing less than of death, but his wisdom +is a meditation of life. Q.E.D. + +PROP. LXVIII. If men were born free, they would, so long as they +remained free, form no conception of good and evil. + Proof.-I call free him who is led solely by reason ; he, +therefore, who is born free, and who remains free, has only +adequate ideas ; therefore (IV. lxiv. Coroll.) he has no +conception of evil, or consequently (good and evil being +correlative) of good. Q.E.D. + Note.-It is evident, from IV. iv., that the hypothesis of +this Proposition is false and inconceivable, except in so far as +we look solely to the nature of man, or rather to God ; not in so +far as the latter is infinite, but only in so far as he is the +cause of man's existence. + This, and other matters which we have already proved, seem to +have been signifieded by Moses in the history of the first man. +For in that narrative no other power of God is conceived, save +that whereby he created man, that is the power wherewith he +provided solely for man's advantage ; it is stated that God +forbade man, being free, to eat of the tree of the knowledge of +good and evil, and that, as soon as man should have eaten of it, +he would straightway fear death rather than desire to live. +Further, it is written that when man had found a wife, who was in +entire harmony with his nature, he knew that there could be +nothing in nature which could be more useful to him ; but that +after he believed the beasts to be like himself, he straightway +began to imitate their emotions (III. xxvii.), and to lose his +freedom ; this freedom was afterwards recovered by the +patriarchs, led by the spirit of Christ ; that is, by the idea of +God, whereon alone it depends, that man may be free, and desire +for others the good which he desires for himself, as we have +shown above (IV. xxxvii.). + +PROP. LXIX. The virtue of a free man is seen to be as great, +when it declines dangers, as when it overcomes them. + Proof.-Emotion can only be checked or removed by an emotion +contrary to itself, and possessing more power in restraining +emotion (IV. vii.). But blind daring and fear are emotions, +which can be conceived as equally great (IV. v. and iii.) : +hence, no less virtue or firmness is required in checking daring +than in checking fear (III. lix. note) ; in other words (Def. of +the Emotions, xl. and xli.), the free man shows as much virtue, +when he declines dangers, as when he strives to overcome them. +Q.E.D. + Corollary.-The free man is as courageous in timely retreat as +in combat ; or, a free man shows equal courage or presence of +mind, whether he elect to give battle or to retreat. + Note.-What courage (animositas) is, and what I mean thereby, +I explained in III. lix. note. By danger I mean everything, +which can give rise to any evil, such as pain, hatred, discord, +&c. + +PROP. LXX. The free man, who lives among the ignorant, strives, +as far as he can, to avoid receiving favours from them. + Proof.-Everyone judges what is good according to his +disposition (III. xxxix. note) ; wherefore an ignorant man, who +has conferred a benefit on another, puts his own estimate upon +it, and, if it appears to be estimated less highly by the +receiver, will feel pain (III. xlii.). But the free man only +desires to join other men to him in friendship (IV. xxxvii.), not +repaying their benefits with others reckoned as of like value, +but guiding himself and others by the free decision of reason, +and doing only such things as he knows to be of primary +importance. Therefore the free man, lest be should become +hateful to the ignorant, or follow their desires rather than +reason, will endeavour, as far as he can, to avoid receiving +their favours. + Note.-I say, as far as he can. For though men be ignorant, +yet are they men, and in cases of necessity could afford us human +aid, the most excellent of all things : therefore it is often +necessary to accept favours from them, and consequently to repay +such favours in kind ; we must, therefore, exercise caution in +declining favours, lest we should have the appearance of +despising those who bestow them, or of being, from avaricious +motives, unwilling to requite them, and so give ground for +offence by the very fact of striving to avoid it. Thus, in +declining favours, we must look to the requirements of utility +and courtesy. + +PROP. LXXI. Only free men are thoroughly grateful one to +another. + Proof.-Only free men are thoroughly useful one to another, +and associated among themselves by the closest necessity of +friendship (IV. xxxv., and Coroll. i.), only such men endeavour, +with mutual zeal of love, to confer benefits on each other (IV. +xxxvii.), and, therefore, only they are thoroughly grateful one +to another. Q.E.D. + Note.-The goodwill, which men who are led by blind desire +have for one another, is generally a bargaining or enticement, +rather than pure goodwill. Moreover, ingratitude is not an +emotion. Yet it is base, inasmuch as it generally shows, that a +man is affected by excessive hatred, anger, pride, avarice, &c. +He who, by reason of his folly, knows not how to return benefits, +is not ungrateful, much less he who is not gained over by the +gifts of a courtesan to serve her lust, or by a thief to conceal +his thefts, or by any similar persons. Contrariwise, such an one +shows a constant mind, inasmuch as he cannot by any gifts be +corrupted, to his own or the general hurt. + +PROP. LXXII. The free man never acts fraudulently, but always in +good faith. + Proof.-If it be asked : What should a man's conduct be in a +case where he could by breaking faith free himself from the +danger of present death? Would not his plan of self-preservation +completely persuade him to deceive? This may be answered by +pointing out that, if reason persuaded him to act thus, it would +persuade all men to act in a similar manner, in which case reason +would persuade men not to agree in good faith to unite their +forces, or to have laws in common, that is, not to have any +general laws, which is absurd. + +PROP. LXXIII. The man, who is guided by reason, is more free in +a State, where he lives under a general system of law, than in +solitude, where he is independent. + Proof.-The man, who is guided by reason, does not obey +through fear (IV. lxiii.) : but, in so far as he endeavours to +preserve his being according to the dictates of reason, that is +(IV. lxvi. note), in so far as he endeavours to live in freedom, +he desires to order his life according to the general good (IV. +xxxvii.), and, consequently (as we showed in IV. xxxvii. note. +ii.), to live according to the laws of his country. Therefore +the free man, in order to enjoy greater freedom, desires to +possess the general rights of citizenship. Q.E.D. + Note.-These and similar observations, which we have made on +man's true freedom, may be referred to strength, that is, to +courage and nobility of character (III. lix. note). I do not +think it worth while to prove separately all the properties of +strength ; much less need I show, that he that is strong hates no +man, is angry with no man, envies no man, is indignant with no +man, despises no man, and least of all things is proud. These +propositions, and all that relate to the true way of life and +religion, are easily proved from IV. xxxvii. and IV. xlvi. ; +namely, that hatred should be overcome with love, and that every +man should desire for others the good which he seeks for himself. +We may also repeat what we drew attention to in the note to IV. +l., and in other places ; namely, that the strong man has ever +first in his thoughts, that all things follow from the necessity +of the divine nature ; so that whatsoever he deems to be hurtful +and evil, and whatsoever, accordingly, seems to him impious, +horrible, unjust, and base, assumes that appearance owing to his +own disordered, fragmentary, and confused view of the universe. +Wherefore he strives before all things to conceive things as they +really are, and to remove the hindrances to true knowledge, such +as are hatred, anger, envy, derision, pride, and similar +emotions, which I have mentioned above. Thus he endeavours, as +we said before, as far as in him lies, to do good, and to go on +his way rejoicing. How far human virtue is capable of attaining +to such a condition, and what its powers may be, I will prove in +the following Part. + + +APPENDIX. + + What have said in this Part concerning the right way of life +has not been arranged, so as to admit of being seen at one view, +but has been set forth piece-meal, according as I thought each +Proposition could most readily be deduced from what preceded it. +I propose, therefore, to rearrange my remarks and to bring them +under leading heads. + I. All our endeavours or desires so follow from the +necessity of our nature, that they can be understood either +through it alone, as their proximate cause, or by virtue of our +being a part of nature, which cannot be adequately conceived +through itself without other individuals. + II. Desires, which follow from our nature in such a manner, +that they can be understood through it alone, are those which are +referred to the mind, in so far as the latter is conceived to +consist of adequate ideas : the remaining desires are only +referred to the mind, in so far as it conceives things +inadequately, and their force and increase are generally defined +not by the power of man, but by the power of things external to +us : wherefore the former are rightly called actions, the latter +passions, for the former always indicate our power, the latter, +on the other hand, show our infirmity and fragmentary knowledge. + III. Our actions, that is, those desires which are defined +by man's power or reason, are always good. The rest may be +either good or bad. + IV. Thus in life it is before all things useful to perfect +the understanding, or reason, as far as we can, and in this alone +man's highest happiness or blessedness consists, indeed +blessedness is nothing else but the contentment of spirit, which +arises from the intuitive knowledge of God : now, to perfect the +understanding is nothing else but to understand God, God's +attributes, and the actions which follow from the necessity of +his nature. Wherefore of a man, who is led by reason, the +ultimate aim or highest desire, whereby he seeks to govern all +his fellows, is that whereby he is brought to the adequate +conception of himself and of all things within the scope of his +intelligence. + V. Therefore, without intelligence there is not rational +life : and things are only good, in so far as they aid man in his +enjoyment of the intellectual life, which is defined by +intelligence. Contrariwise, whatsoever things hinder man's +perfecting of his reason, and capability to enjoy the rational +life, are alone called evil. + VI. As all things whereof man is the efficient cause are +necessarily good, no evil can befall man except through external +causes ; namely, by virtue of man being a part of universal +nature, whose laws human nature is compelled to obey, and to +conform to in almost infinite ways. + VII. It is impossible, that man should not be a part of +nature, or that he should not follow her general order ; but if +he be thrown among individuals whose nature is in harmony with +his own, his power of action will thereby be aided and fostered, +whereas, if he be thrown among such as are but very little in +harmony with his nature, he will hardly be able to accommodate +himself to them without undergoing a great change himself. + VIII. Whatsoever in nature we deem to be evil, or to be +capable of injuring our faculty for existing and enjoying the +rational life, we may endeavour to remove in whatever way seems +safest to us ; on the other hand, whatsoever we deem to be good +or useful for preserving our being, and enabling us to enjoy the +rational life, we may appropriate to our use and employ as we +think best. Everyone without exception may, by sovereign right +of nature, do whatsoever he thinks will advance his own interest. + IX. Nothing can be in more harmony with the nature of any +given thing than other individuals of the same species ; +therefore (cf. vii.) for man in the preservation of his being and +the enjoyment of the rational life there is nothing more useful +than his fellow-man who is led by reason. Further, as we know +not anything among individual things which is more excellent than +a man led by reason, no man can better display the power of his +skill and disposition, than in so training men, that they come at +last to live under the dominion of their own reason. + X. In so far as men are influenced by envy or any kind of +hatred, one towards another, they are at variance, and are +therefore to be feared in proportion, as they are more powerful +than their fellows. + XI. Yet minds are not conquered by force, but by love and +high-mindedness. + XII. It is before all things useful to men to associate +their ways of life, to bind themselves together with such bonds +as they think most fitted to gather them all into unity, and +generally to do whatsoever serves to strengthen friendship. + XIII. But for this there is need of skill and watchfulness. +For men are diverse (seeing that those who live under the +guidance of reason are few), yet are they generally envious and +more prone to revenge than to sympathy. No small force of +character is therefore required to take everyone as he is, and to +restrain one's self from imitating the emotions of others. But +those who carp at mankind, and are more skilled in railing at +vice than in instilling virtue, and who break rather than +strengthen men's dispositions, are hurtful both to themselves and +others. Thus many from too great impatience of spirit, or from +misguided religious zeal, have preferred to live among brutes +rather than among men ; as boys or youths, who cannot peaceably +endure the chidings of their parents, will enlist as soldiers and +choose the hardships of war and the despotic discipline in +preference to the comforts of home and the admonitions of their +father : suffering any burden to be put upon them, so long as +they may spite their parents. + XIV. Therefore, although men are generally governed in +everything by their own lusts, yet their association in common +brings many more advantages than drawbacks. Wherefore it is +better to bear patiently the wrongs they may do us, and to strive +to promote whatsoever serves to bring about harmony and +friendship. + XV. Those things, which beget harmony, are such as are +attributable to justice, equity, and honourable living. For men +brook ill not only what is unjust or iniquitous, but also what is +reckoned disgraceful, or that a man should slight the received +customs of their society. For winning love those qualities are +especially necessary which have regard to religion and piety (cf. +IV. xxxvii. notes. i. ii. ; xlvi. note ; and lxxiii. note). + XVI. Further, harmony is often the result of fear : but such +harmony is insecure. Further, fear arises from infirmity of +spirit, and moreover belongs not to the exercise of reason : the +same is true of compassion, though this latter seems to bear a +certain resemblance to piety. + XVII. Men are also gained over by liberality, especially +such as have not the means to buy what is necessary to sustain +life. However, to give aid to every poor man is far beyond the +power and the advantage of any private person. For the riches of +any private person are wholly inadequate to meet such a call. +Again, an individual man's resources of character are too limited +for him to be able to make all men his friends. Hence providing +for the poor is a duty, which falls on the State as a whole, and +has regard only to the general advantage. + XVIII. In accepting favours, and in returning gratitude our +duty must be wholly different (cf. IV. lxx. note ; lxxi. note). + XIX. Again, meretricious love, that is, the lust of +generation arising from bodily beauty, and generally every sort +of love, which owns anything save freedom of soul as its cause, +readily passes into hate ; unless indeed, what is worse, it is a +species of madness ; and then it promotes discord rather than +harmony (cf. III. xxxi. Coroll.). + XX. As concerning marriage, it is certain that this is in +harmony with reason, if the desire for physical union be not +engendered solely by bodily beauty, but also by the desire to +beget children and to train them up wisely ; and moreover, if the +love of both, to wit, of the man and of the woman, is not caused +by bodily beauty only, but also by freedom of soul. + XXI. Furthermore, flattery begets harmony ; but only by +means of the vile offence of slavishness or treachery. None are +more readily taken with flattery than the proud, who wish to be +first, but are not. + XXII. There is in abasement a spurious appearance of piety +and religion. Although abasement is the opposite to pride, yet +is he that abases himself most akin to the proud (IV. lvii. +note). + XXIII. Shame also brings about harmony, but only in such +matters as cannot be hid. Further, as shame is a species of +pain, it does not concern the exercise of reason. + XXIV. The remaining emotions of pain towards men are +directly opposed to justice, equity, honour, piety, and religion +; and, although indignation seems to bear a certain resemblance +to equity, yet is life but lawless, where every man may pass +judgment on another's deeds, and vindicate his own or other men's +rights. + XXV. Correctness of conduct (modestia), that is, the desire +of pleasing men which is determined by reason, is attributable to +piety (as we said in IV. xxxvii. note. i.). But, if it spring +from emotion, it is ambition, or the desire whereby, men, under +the false cloak of piety, generally stir up discords and +seditions. For he who desires to aid his fellows either in word +or in deed, so that they may together enjoy the highest good, he, +I say, will before all things strive to win them over with love : +not to draw them into admiration, so that a system may be called +after his name, nor to give any cause for envy. Further, in his +conversation he will shrink from talking of men's faults, and +will be careful to speak but sparingly of human infirmity : but +he will dwell at length on human virtue or power, and the way +whereby it may be perfected. Thus will men be stirred not by +fear, nor by aversion, but only by the emotion of joy, to +endeavour, so far as in them lies, to live in obedience to +reason. + XXVI. Besides men, we know of no particular thing in nature +in whose mind we may rejoice, and whom we can associate with +ourselves in friendship or any sort of fellowship ; therefore, +whatsoever there be in nature besides man, a regard for our +advantage does not call on us to preserve, but to preserve or +destroy according to its various capabilities, and to adapt to +our use as best we may. + XXVII. The advantage which we derive from things external to +us, besides the experience and knowledge which we acquire from +observing them, and from recombining their elements in different +forms, is principally the preservation of the body ; from this +point of view, those things are most useful which can so feed and +nourish the body, that all its parts may rightly fulfil their +functions. For, in proportion as the body is capable of being +affected in a greater variety of ways, and of affecting external +bodies in a great number of ways, so much the more is the mind +capable of thinking (IV. xxxviii., xxxix.). But there seem to be +very few things of this kind in nature ; wherefore for the due +nourishment of the body we must use many foods of diverse nature. +For the human body is composed of very many parts of different +nature, which stand in continual need of varied nourishment, so +that the whole body may be equally capable of doing everything +that can follow from its own nature, and consequently that the +mind also may be equally capable of forming many perceptions. + XXVIII. Now for providing these nourishments the strength of +each individual would hardly suffice, if men did not lend one +another mutual aid. But money has furnished us with a token for +everything : hence it is with the notion of money, that the mind +of the multitude is chiefly engrossed : nay, it can hardly +conceive any kind of pleasure, which is not accompanied with the +idea of money as cause. + XXIX. This result is the fault only of those, who seek +money, not from poverty or to supply their necessary wants, but +because they have learned the arts of gain, wherewith they bring +themselves to great splendour. Certainly they nourish their +bodies, according to custom, but scantily, believing that they +lose as much of their wealth as they spend on the preservation of +their body. But they who know the true use of money, and who fix +the measure of wealth solely with regard to their actual needs, +live content with little. + XXX. As, therefore, those things are good which assist the +various parts of the body, and enable them to perform their +functions ; and as pleasure consists in an increase of, or aid +to, man's power, in so far as he is composed of mind and body ; +it follows that all those things which bring pleasure are good. +But seeing that things do not work with the object of giving us +pleasure, and that their power of action is not tempered to suit +our advantage, and, lastly, that pleasure is generally referred +to one part of the body more than to the other parts ; therefore +most emotions of pleasure (unless reason and watchfulness be at +hand), and consequently the desires arising therefrom, may become +excessive. Moreover we may add that emotion leads us to pay most +regard to what is agreeable in the present, nor can we estimate +what is future with emotions equally vivid. (IV. xliv. note, and +lx. note.) + XXXI. Superstition, on the other hand, seems to account as +good all that brings pain, and as bad all that brings pleasure. +However, as we said above (IV. xlv. note), none but the envious +take delight in my infirmity and trouble. For the greater the +pleasure whereby we are affected, the greater is the perfection +whereto we pass, and consequently the more do we partake of the +divine nature : no pleasure can ever be evil, which is regulated +by a true regard for our advantage. But contrariwise he, who is +led by fear and does good only to avoid evil, is not guided by +reason. + XXXII. But human power is extremely limited, and is +infinitely surpassed by the power of external causes ; we have +not, therefore, an absolute power of shaping to our use those +things which are without us. Nevertheless, we shall bear with an +equal mind all that happens to us in contravention to the claims +of our own advantage, so long as we are conscious, that we have +done our duty, and that the power which we possess is not +sufficient to enable us to protect ourselves completely ; +remembering that we are a part of universal nature, and that we +follow her order. If we have a clear and distinct understanding +of this, that part of our nature which is defined by +intelligence, in other words the better part of ourselves, will +assuredly acquiesce in what befalls us, and in such acquiescence +will endeavour to persist. For, in so far as we are intelligent +beings, we cannot desire anything save that which is necessary, +nor yield absolute acquiescence to anything, save to that which +is true : wherefore, in so far as we have a right understanding +of these things, the endeavour of the better part of ourselves is +in harmony with the order of nature as a whole. + + + +PART V : +Of the Power of the Understanding, or of Human Freedom + + +PREFACE + + At length I pass to the remaining portion of my Ethics, which +is concerned with the way leading to freedom. I shall therefore +treat therein of the power of the reason, showing how far the +reason can control the emotions, and what is the nature of Mental +Freedom or Blessedness ; we shall then be able to see, how much +more powerful the wise man is than the ignorant. It is no part +of my design to point out the method and means whereby the +understanding may be perfected, nor to show the skill whereby the +body may be so tended, as to be capable of the due performance of +its functions. The latter question lies in the province of +Medicine, the former in the province of Logic. Here, therefore, +I repeat, I shall treat only of the power of the mind, or of +reason ; and I shall mainly show the extent and nature of its +dominion over the emotions, for their control and moderation. +That we do not possess absolute dominion over them, I have +already shown. Yet the Stoics have thought, that the emotions +depended absolutely on our will, and that we could absolutely +govern them. But these philosophers were compelled, by the +protest of experience, not from their own principles, to confess, +that no slight practice and zeal is needed to control and +moderate them : and this someone endeavoured to illustrate by the +example (if I remember rightly) of two dogs, the one a house-dog +and the other a hunting-dog. For by long training it could be +brought about, that the house-dog should become accustomed to +hunt, and the hunting-dog to cease from running after hares. To +this opinion Descartes not a little inclines. For he maintained, +that the soul or mind is specially united to a particular part of +the brain, namely, to that part called the pineal gland, by the +aid of which the mind is enabled to feel all the movements which +are set going in the body, and also external objects, and which +the mind by a simple act of volition can put in motion in various +ways. He asserted, that this gland is so suspended in the midst +of the brain, that it could be moved by the slightest motion of +the animal spirits : further, that this gland is suspended in the +midst of the brain in as many different manners, as the animal +spirits can impinge thereon ; and, again, that as many different +marks are impressed on the said gland, as there are different +external objects which impel the animal spirits towards it ; +whence it follows, that if the will of the soul suspends the +gland in a position, wherein it has already been suspended once +before by the animal spirits driven in one way or another, the +gland in its turn reacts on the said spirits, driving and +determining them to the condition wherein they were, when +repulsed before by a similar position of the gland. He further +asserted, that every act of mental volition is united in nature +to a certain given motion of the gland. For instance, whenever +anyone desires to look at a remote object, the act of volition +causes the pupil of the eye to dilate, whereas, if the person in +question had only thought of the dilatation of the pupil, the +mere wish to dilate it would not have brought about the result, +inasmuch as the motion of the gland, which serves to impel the +animal spirits towards the optic nerve in a way which would +dilate or contract the pupil, is not associated in nature with +the wish to dilate or contract the pupil, but with the wish to +look at remote or very near objects. Lastly, he maintained that, +although every motion of the aforesaid gland seems to have been +united by nature to one particular thought out of the whole +number of our thoughts from the very beginning of our life, yet +it can nevertheless become through habituation associated with +other thoughts ; this he endeavours to prove in the Passions de +l'âme, I.50. He thence concludes, that there is no soul so weak, +that it cannot, under proper direction, acquire absolute power +over its passions. For passions as defined by him are +"perceptions, or feelings, or disturbances of the soul, which are +referred to the soul as species, and which (mark the expression) +are produced, preserved, and strengthened through some movement +of the spirits." (Passions de l'âme, I.27). But, seeing that we +can join any motion of the gland, or consequently of the spirits, +to any volition, the determination of the will depends entirely +on our own powers ; if, therefore, we determine our will with +sure and firm decisions in the direction to which we wish our +actions to tend, and associate the motions of the passions which +we wish to acquire with the said decisions, we shall acquire an +absolute dominion over our passions. Such is the doctrine of +this illustrious philosopher (in so far as I gather it from his +own words) ; it is one which, had it been less ingenious, I could +hardly believe to have proceeded from so great a man. Indeed, I +am lost in wonder, that a philosopher, who had stoutly asserted, +that he would draw no conclusions which do not follow from +self-evident premisses, and would affirm nothing which he did not +clearly and distinctly perceive, and who had so often taken to +task the scholastics for wishing to explain obscurities through +occult qualities, could maintain a hypothesis, beside which +occult qualities are commonplace. What does he understand, I +ask, by the union of the mind and the body? What clear and +distinct conception has he got of thought in most intimate union +with a certain particle of extended matter? Truly I should like +him to explain this union through its proximate cause. But he +had so distinct a conception of mind being distinct from body, +that he could not assign any particular cause of the union +between the two, or of the mind itself, but was obliged to have +recourse to the cause of the whole universe, that is to God. +Further, I should much like to know, what degree of motion the +mind can impart to this pineal gland, and with what force can it +hold it suspended? For I am in ignorance, whether this gland can +be agitated more slowly or more quickly by the mind than by the +animal spirits, and whether the motions of the passions, which we +have closely united with firm decisions, cannot be again +disjoined therefrom by physical causes ; in which case it would +follow that, although the mind firmly intended to face a given +danger, and had united to this decision the motions of boldness, +yet at the sight of the danger the gland might become suspended +in a way, which would preclude the mind thinking of anything +except running away. In truth, as there is no common standard of +volition and motion, so is there no comparison possible between +the powers of the mind and the power or strength of the body ; +consequently the strength of one cannot in any wise be determined +by the strength of the other. We may also add, that there is no +gland discoverable in the midst of the brain, so placed that it +can thus easily be set in motion in so many ways, and also that +all the nerves are not prolonged so far as the cavities of the +brain. Lastly, I omit all the assertions which he makes +concerning the will and its freedom, inasmuch as I have +abundantly proved that his premisses are false. Therefore, since +the power of the mind, as I have shown above, is defined by the +understanding only, we shall determine solely by the knowledge of +the mind the remedies against the emotions, which I believe all +have had experience of, but do not accurately observe or +distinctly see, and from the same basis we shall deduce all those +conclusions, which have regard to the mind's blessedness. + + +AXIOMS. + +I. If two contrary actions be started in the same subject, a +change must necessarily take place, either in both, or in one of +the two, and continue until they cease to be contrary. + +II. The power of an effect is defined by the power of its cause, +in so far as its essence is explained or defined by the essence +of its cause. + (This axiom is evident from III. vii.) + + +PROPOSITIONS. + +PROP. I. Even as thoughts and the ideas of things are arranged +and associated in the mind, so are the modifications of body or +the images of things precisely in the same way arranged and +associated in the body. + Proof.-The order and connection of ideas is the same (II. +vii.) as the order and connection of things, and vice versâ the +order and connection of things is the same (II. vi. Coroll. and +vii.) as the order and connection of ideas. Wherefore, even as +the order and connection of ideas in the mind takes place +according to the order and association of modifications of the +body (II. xviii.), so vice versâ (III. ii.) the order and +connection of modifications of the body takes place in accordance +with the manner, in which thoughts and the ideas of things are +arranged and associated in the mind. Q.E.D. + +PROP. II. If we remove a disturbance of the spirit, or emotion, +from the thought of an external cause, and unite it to other +thoughts, then will the love or hatred towards that external +cause, and also the vacillations of spirit which arise from these +emotions, be destroyed. + Proof.-That, which constitutes the reality of love or hatred, +is pleasure or pain, accompanied by the idea of an external cause +(Def. of the Emotions, vi. vii.) ; wherefore, when this cause is +removed, the reality of love or hatred is removed with it ; +therefore these emotions and those which arise therefrom are +destroyed. Q.E.D. + +PROP. III. An emotion, which is a passion, ceases to be a +passion, as soon as we form a clear and distinct idea thereof. + Proof.-An emotion, which is a passion, is a confused idea (by +the general Def. of the Emotions). If, therefore, we form a +clear and distinct idea of a given emotion, that idea will only +be distinguished from the emotion, in so far as it is referred to +the mind only, by reason (II. xxi., and note) ; therefore (III. +iii.), the emotion will cease to be a passion. Q.E.D. + Corollary-An emotion therefore becomes more under our +control, and the mind is less passive in respect to it, in +proportion as it is more known to us. + +PROP. IV. There is no modification of the body, whereof we +cannot form some clear and distinct conception. + Proof.-Properties which are common to all things can only be +conceived adequately (II. xxxviii.) ; therefore (II. xii. and +Lemma ii. after II. xiii.) there is no modification of the body, +whereof we cannot form some clear and distinct conception. +Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that there is no emotion, whereof +we cannot form some clear and distinct conception. For an +emotion is the idea of a modification of the body (by the general +Def. of the Emotions), and must therefore (by the preceding +Prop.) involve some clear and distinct conception. + Note.-Seeing that there is nothing which is not followed by +an effect (I. xxxvi.), and that we clearly and distinctly +understand whatever follows from an idea, which in us is adequate +(II. xl.), it follows that everyone has the power of clearly and +distinctly understanding himself and his emotions, if not +absolutely, at any rate in part, and consequently of bringing it +about, that he should become less subject to them. To attain +this result, therefore, we must chiefly direct our efforts to +acquiring, as far as possible, a clear and distinct knowledge of +every emotion, in order that the mind may thus, through emotion, +be determined to think of those things which it clearly and +distinctly perceives, and wherein it fully acquiesces : and thus +that the emotion itself may be separated from the thought of an +external cause, and may be associated with true thoughts ; whence +it will come to pass, not only that love, hatred, &c. will be +destroyed (V. ii.), but also that the appetites or desires, which +are wont to arise from such emotion, will become incapable of +being excessive (IV. lxi.). For it must be especially remarked, +that the appetite through which a man is said to be active, and +that through which he is said to be passive is one and the same. +For instance, we have shown that human nature is so constituted, +that everyone desires his fellow-men to live after his own +fashion (III. xxxi. note) ; in a man, who is not guided by +reason, this appetite is a passion which is called ambition, and +does not greatly differ from pride ; whereas in a man, who lives +by the dictates of reason, it is an activity or virtue which is +called piety (IV. xxxvii. note. i. and second proof). In like +manner all appetites or desires are only passions, in so far as +they spring from inadequate ideas ; the same results are +accredited to virtue, when they are aroused or generated by +adequate ideas. For all desires, whereby we are determined to +any given action, may arise as much from adequate as from +inadequate ideas (IV. lix.). Than this remedy for the emotions +(to return to the point from which I started), which consists in +a true knowledge thereof, nothing more excellent, being within +our power, can be devised. For the mind has no other power save +that of thinking and of forming adequate ideas, as we have shown +above (III. iii.). + +PROP. V. An emotion towards a thing, which we conceive simply, +and not as necessary, or as contingent, or as possible, is, other +conditions being equal, greater than any other emotion. + Proof.-An emotion towards a thing, which we conceive to be +free, is greater than one towards what we conceive to be +necessary (III. xlix.), and, consequently, still greater than one +towards what we conceive as possible, or contingent (IV. xi.). +But to conceive a thing as free can be nothing else than to +conceive it simply, while we are in ignorance of the causes +whereby it has been determined to action (II. xxxv. note) ; +therefore, an emotion towards a thing which we conceive simply +is, other conditions being equal, greater than one, which we feel +towards what is necessary, possible, or contingent, and, +consequently, it is the greatest of all. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VI. The mind has greater power over the emotions and is +less subject thereto, in so far as it understands all things as +necessary. + Proof.-The mind understands all things to be necessary (I. +xxix.) and to be determined to existence and operation by an +infinite chain of causes ; therefore (by the foregoing +Proposition), it thus far brings it about, that it is less +subject to the emotions arising therefrom, and (III. xlviii.) +feels less emotion towards the things themselves. Q.E.D. + Note.-The more this knowledge, that things are necessary, is +applied to particular things, which we conceive more distinctly +and vividly, the greater is the power of the mind over the +emotions, as experience also testifies. For we see, that the +pain arising from the loss of any good is mitigated, as soon as +the man who has lost it perceives, that it could not by any means +have been preserved. So also we see that no one pities an +infant, because it cannot speak, walk, or reason, or lastly, +because it passes so many years, as it were, in unconsciousness. +Whereas, if most people were born full-grown and only one here +and there as an infant, everyone would pity the infants ; because +infancy would not then be looked on as a state natural and +necessary, but as a fault or delinquency in Nature ; and we may +note several other instances of the same sort. + +PROP. VII. Emotions which are aroused or spring from reason, if +we take account of time, are stronger than those, which are +attributable to particular objects that we regard as absent. + Proof.-We do not regard a thing as absent, by reason of the +emotion wherewith we conceive it, but by reason of the body, +being affected by another emotion excluding the existence of the +said thing (II. xvii.). Wherefore, the emotion, which is +referred to the thing which we regard as absent, is not of a +nature to overcome the rest of a man's activities and power (IV. +vi.), but is, on the contrary, of a nature to be in some sort +controlled by the emotions, which exclude the existence of its +external cause (IV. ix.). But an emotion which springs from +reason is necessarily referred to the common properties of things +(see the def. of reason in II. xl. note. ii.), which we always +regard as present (for there can be nothing to exclude their +present existence), and which we always conceive in the same +manner (II. xxxviii.). Wherefore an emotion of this kind always +remains the same ; and consequently (V. Ax. i.) emotions, which +are contrary thereto and are not kept going by their external +causes, will be obliged to adapt themselves to it more and more, +until they are no longer contrary to it ; to this extent the +emotion which springs from reason is more powerful. Q.E.D. + +PROP. VIII. An emotion is stronger in proportion to the number +of simultaneous concurrent causes whereby it is aroused. + Proof.-Many simultaneous causes are more powerful than a few +(III. vii.) : therefore (IV. v.), in proportion to the increased +number of simultaneous causes whereby it is aroused, an emotion +becomes stronger. Q.E.D. + Note-This proposition is also evident from V. Ax. ii. + +PROP. IX. An emotion, which is attributable to many and diverse +causes which the mind regards as simultaneous with the emotion +itself, is less hurtful, and we are less subject thereto and less +affected towards each of its causes, than if it were a different +and equally powerful emotion attributable to fewer causes or to a +single cause. + Proof.-An emotion is only bad or hurtful, in so far as it +hinders the mind from being able to think (IV. xxvi. xxvii.) ; +therefore, an emotion, whereby the mind is determined to the +contemplation of several things at once, is less hurtful than +another equally powerful emotion, which so engrosses the mind in +the single contemplation of a few objects or of one, that it is +unable to think of anything else ; this was our first point. +Again, as the mind's essence, in other words, its power (III. +vii.), consists solely in thought (II. xi.), the mind is less +passive in respect to an emotion, which causes it to think of +several things at once, than in regard to an equally strong +emotion, which keeps it engrossed in the contemplation of a few +or of a single object : this was our second point. Lastly, this +emotion (III. xlviii.), in so far as it is attributable to +several causes, is less powerful in regard to each of them. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. X. So long as we are not assailed by emotions contrary to +our nature, we have the power of arranging and associating the +modifications of our body according to the intellectual order. + Proof.-The emotions, which are contrary to our nature, that +is (IV. xxx.), which are bad, are bad in so far as they impede +the mind from understanding (IV. xxvii.). So long, therefore, as +we are not assailed by emotions contrary to our nature, the +mind's power, whereby it endeavours to understand things (IV. +xxvi.), is not impeded, and therefore it is able to form clear +and distinct ideas and to deduce them one from another (II. xl. +note. ii. and II. xlvii. note) ; consequently we have in such +cases the power of arranging and associating the modifications of +the body according to the intellectual order. Q.E.D. + Note.-By this power of rightly arranging and associating the +bodily modifications we can guard ourselves from being easily +affected by evil emotions. For (V. vii.) a greater force is +needed for controlling the emotions, when they are arranged and +associated according to the intellectual order, than when they, +are uncertain and unsettled. The best we can do, therefore, so +long as we do not possess a perfect knowledge of our emotions, is +to frame a system of right conduct, or fixed practical precepts, +to commit it to memory, and to apply it forthwith16 to the +particular circumstances which now and again meet us in life, so +that our imagination may become fully imbued therewith, and that +it may be always ready to our hand. For instance, we have laid +down among the rules of life (IV. xlvi. and note), that hatred +should be overcome with love or high-mindedness, and not required +with hatred in return. Now, that this precept of reason may be +always ready to our hand in time of need, we should often think +over and reflect upon the wrongs generally committed by men, and +in what manner and way they may be best warded off by +high-mindedness : we shall thus associate the idea of wrong with +the idea of this precept, which accordingly will always be ready +for use when a wrong is done to us (II. xviii.). If we keep also +in readiness the notion of our true advantage, and of the good +which follows from mutual friendships, and common fellowships ; +further, if we remember that complete acquiescence is the result +of the right way of life ( IV. lii.), and that men, no less than +everything else, act by the necessity of their nature : in such +case I say the wrong, or the hatred, which commonly arises +therefrom, will engross a very small part of our imagination and +will be easily overcome ; or, if the anger which springs from a +grievous wrong be not overcome easily, it will nevertheless be +overcome, though not without a spiritual conflict, far sooner +than if we had not thus reflected on the subject beforehand. As +is indeed evident from V. vi. vii. viii. We should, in the same +way, reflect on courage as a means of overcoming fear ; the +ordinary dangers of life should frequently be brought to mind and +imagined, together with the means whereby through readiness of +resource and strength of mind we can avoid and overcome them. +But we must note, that in arranging our thoughts and conceptions +we should always bear in mind that which is good in every +individual thing (IV. lxiii. Coroll. and III. lix.), in order +that we may always be determined to action by an emotion of +pleasure. For instance, if a man sees that he is too keen in the +pursuit of honour, let him think over its right use, the end for +which it should be pursued, and the means whereby he may attain +it. Let him not think of its misuse, and its emptiness, and the +fickleness of mankind, and the like, whereof no man thinks except +through a morbidness of disposition ; with thoughts like these do +the most ambitious most torment themselves, when they despair of +gaining the distinctions they hanker after, and in thus giving +vent to their anger would fain appear wise. Wherefore it is +certain that those, who cry out the loudest against the misuse of +honour and the vanity of the world, are those who most greedily +covet it. This is not peculiar to the ambitious, but is common +to all who are ill-used by fortune, and who are infirm in spirit. +For a poor man also, who is miserly, will talk incessantly of the +misuse of wealth and of the vices of the rich ; whereby he merely +torments himself, and shows the world that he is intolerant, not +only of his own poverty, but also of other people's riches. So, +again, those who have been ill received by a woman they love +think of nothing but the inconstancy, treachery, and other stock +faults of the fair sex ; all of which they consign to oblivion, +directly they are again taken into favour by their sweetheart. +Thus he who would govern his emotions and appetite solely by the +love of freedom strives, as far as he can, to gain a knowledge of +the virtues and their causes, and to fill his spirit with the joy +which arises from the true knowledge of them : he will in no wise +desire to dwell on men's faults, or to carp at his fellows, or to +revel in a false show of freedom. Whosoever will diligently +observe and practise these precepts (which indeed are not +difficult) will verily, in a short space of time, be able, for +the most part, to direct his actions according to the +commandments of reason. + +PROP. XI. In proportion as a mental image is referred to more +objects, so is it more frequent, or more often vivid, and +occupies the mind more. + Proof.-In proportion as a mental image or an emotion is +referred to more objects, so are there more causes whereby it can +be aroused and fostered, all of which (by hypothesis) the mind +contemplates simultaneously in association with the given emotion +; therefore the emotion is more frequent, or is more often in +full vigour, and (V. viii.) occupies the mind more. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XII. The mental images of things are more easily +associated with the images referred to things which we clearly +and distinctly understand, than with others. + Proof.-Things, which we clearly and distinctly understand, +are either the common properties of things or deductions +therefrom (see definition of Reason, II. xl. note ii.), and are +consequently (by the last Prop.) more often aroused in us. +Wherefore it may more readily happen, that we should contemplate +other things in conjunction with these than in conjunction with +something else, and consequently (II. xviii.) that the images of +the said things should be more often associated with the images +of these than with the images of something else. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIII. A mental image is more often vivid, in proportion as +it is associated with a greater number of other images. + Proof.-In proportion as an image is associated with a greater +number of other images, so (II. xviii.) are there more causes +whereby it can be aroused. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XIV. The mind can bring it about, that all bodily +modifications or images of things may be referred to the idea of +God. + Proof.-There is no modification of the body, whereof the mind +may not form some clear and distinct conception (V. iv.) ; +wherefore it can bring it about, that they should all be referred +to the idea of God (I. xv.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XV. He who clearly and distinctly understands himself and +his emotions loves God, and so much the more in proportion as he +more understands himself and his emotions. + Proof.-He who clearly and distinctly understands himself and +his emotions feels pleasure (III. liii.), and this pleasure is +(by the last Prop.) accompanied by the idea of God ; therefore +(Def. of the Emotions, vi.) such an one loves God, and (for the +same reason) so much the more in proportion as he more +understands himself and his emotions. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVI. This love towards God must hold the chief place in +the mind. + Proof.-For this love is associated with all the modifications +of the body (V. xiv.) and is fostered by them all (V. xv.) ; +therefore (V. xi.), it must hold the chief place in the mind. +Q.E.D. + +PROP. XVII. God is without passions, neither is he affected by +any emotion of pleasure or pain. + Proof.-All ideas, in so far as they are referred to God, are +true (II. xxxii.), that is (II. Def. iv.) adequate ; and +therefore (by the general Def. of the Emotions) God is without +passions. Again, God cannot pass either to a greater or to a +lesser perfection (I. xx. Coroll. ii.) ; therefore (by Def. of +the Emotions, ii. iii.) he is not affected by any emotion of +pleasure or pain. + Corollary.-Strictly speaking, God does not love or hate +anyone. For God (by the foregoing Prop.) is not affected by any +emotion of pleasure or pain, consequently (Def. of the Emotions, +vi. vii.) he does not love or hate anyone. + +PROP. XVIII. No one can hate God. + Proof.-The idea of God which is in us is adequate and perfect +(II. xlvi. xlvii.) ; wherefore, in so far as we contemplate God, +we are active (III. iii.) ; consequently (III. lix.) there can be +no pain accompanied by the idea of God, in other words (Def. of +the Emotions, vii.), no one can hate God. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Love towards God cannot be turned into hate. + Note.-It may be objected that, as we understand God as the +cause of all things, we by that very fact regard God as the cause +of pain. But I make answer, that, in so far as we understand the +causes of pain, it to that extent (V. iii.) ceases to be a +passion, that is, it ceases to be pain (III. lix.) ; therefore, +in so far as we understand God to be the cause of pain, we to +that extent feel pleasure. + +PROP. XIX. He, who loves God, cannot endeavour that God should +love him in return. + Proof.-For, if a man should so endeavour, he would desire (V. +xvii. Coroll.) that God, whom he loves, should not be God, and +consequently he would desire to feel pain (III. xix.) ; which is +absurd (III. xxviii.). Therefore, he who loves God, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XX. This love towards God cannot be stained by the emotion +of envy or jealousy : contrariwise, it is the more fostered, in +proportion as we conceive a greater number of men to be joined to +God by the same bond of love. + Proof.-This love towards God is the highest good which we can +seek for under the guidance of reason (IV. xxviii.), it is common +to all men (IV. xxxvi.), and we desire that all should rejoice +therein (IV. xxxvii.) ; therefore (Def. of the Emotions, xxiii.), +it cannot be stained by the emotion envy, nor by the emotion of +jealousy (V. xviii. see definition of Jealousy, III. xxxv. note) +; but, contrariwise, it must needs be the more fostered, in +proportion as we conceive a greater number of men to rejoice +therein. Q.E.D. + Note.-We can in the same way show, that there is no emotion +directly contrary to this love, whereby this love can be +destroyed ; therefore we may conclude, that this love towards God +is the most constant of all the emotions, and that, in so far as +it is referred to the body, it cannot be destroyed, unless the +body be destroyed also. As to its nature, in so far as it is +referred to the mind only, we shall presently inquire. + I have now gone through all the remedies against the +emotions, or all that the mind, considered in itself alone, can +do against them. Whence it appears that the mind's power over +the emotions consists :- + I. In the actual knowledge of the emotions (V. iv. note). + II. In the fact that it separates the emotions from the +thought of an external cause, which we conceive confusedly (V. +ii. and V. iv. note). + III. In the fact, that, in respect to time, the emotions +referred to things, which we distinctly understand, surpass those +referred to what we conceive in a confused and fragmentary manner +(V. vii.). + IV. In the number of causes whereby those modifications17 +are fostered, which have regard to the common properties of +things or to God (V. ix. xi.). + V. Lastly, in the order wherein the mind can arrange and +associate, one with another, its own emotions (V. x. note and +xii. xiii. xiv.). + But, in order that this power of the mind over the emotions +may be better understood, it should be specially observed that +the emotions are called by us strong, when we compare the emotion +of one man with the emotion of another, and see that one man is +more troubled than another by the same emotion ; or when we are +comparing the various emotions of the same man one with another, +and find that he is more affected or stirred by one emotion than +by another. For the strength of every emotion is defined by a +comparison of our own power with the power of an external cause. +Now the power of the mind is defined by knowledge only, and its +infirmity or passion is defined by the privation of knowledge +only : it therefore follows, that that mind is most passive, +whose greatest part is made up of inadequate ideas, so that it +may be characterized more readily by its passive states than by +its activities : on the other hand, that mind is most active, +whose greatest part is made up of adequate ideas, so that, +although it may contain as many inadequate ideas as the former +mind, it may yet be more easily characterized by ideas +attributable to human virtue, than by ideas which tell of human +infirmity. Again, it must be observed, that spiritual +unhealthiness and misfortunes can generally be traced to +excessive love for something which is subject to many variations, +and which we can never become masters of. For no one is +solicitous or anxious about anything, unless he loves it ; +neither do wrongs, suspicions, enmities, &c. arise, except in +regard to things whereof no one can be really master. + We may thus readily conceive the power which clear and +distinct knowledge, and especially that third kind of knowledge +(II. xlvii. note), founded on the actual knowledge of God, +possesses over the emotions : if it does not absolutely destroy +them, in so far as they are passions (V. iii. and iv. note) ; at +any rate, it causes them to occupy a very small part of the mind +(V. xiv.). Further, it begets a love towards a thing immutable +and eternal (V. xv.), whereof we may really enter into possession +(II. xlv.) ; neither can it be defiled with those faults which +are inherent in ordinary love ; but it may grow from strength to +strength, and may engross the greater part of the mind, and +deeply penetrate it. + And now I have finished with all that concerns this present +life : for, as I said in the beginning of this note, I have +briefly described all the remedies against the emotions. And +this everyone may readily have seen for himself, if he has +attended to what is advanced in the present note, and also to the +definitions of the mind and its emotions, and, lastly, to +Propositions i. and iii. of Part III. It is now, therefore, time +to pass on to those matters, which appertain to the duration of +the mind, without relation to the body. + +PROP. XXI. The mind can only imagine anything, or remember what +is past, while the body endures. + Proof.-The mind does not express the actual existence of its +body, nor does it imagine the modifications of the body as +actual, except while the body endures (II. viii. Coroll.) ; and, +consequently (II. xxvi.), it does not imagine +any body as actually existing, except while its own body endures. +Thus it +cannot imagine anything (for definition of Imagination, see II. +xvii. note), +or remember things past, except while the body endures (see +definition of Memory, II. xviii. note). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXII. Nevertheless in God there is necessarily an idea, +which expresses the essence of this or that human body under the +form of eternity. + Proof.-God is the cause, not only of the existence of this or +that human body, but also of its essence (I. xxv.). This +essence, therefore, must necessarily be conceived through the +very essence of God (I. Ax. iv.), and be thus conceived by a +certain eternal necessity (I. xvi.) ; and this conception must +necessarily exist in God (II. iii.). Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIII. The human mind cannot be absolutely destroyed with +the body, but there remains of it something which is eternal. + Proof.-There is necessarily in God a concept or idea, which +expresses the essence of the human body (last Prop.), which, +therefore, is necessarily something appertaining to the essence +of the human mind (II. xiii.). But we have not assigned to the +human mind any duration, definable by time, except in so far as +it expresses the actual existence of the body, which is explained +through duration, and may be defined by time-that is (II. viii. +Coroll.), we do not assign to it duration, except while the body +endures. Yet, as there is something, notwithstanding, which is +conceived by a certain eternal necessity through the very essence +of God (last Prop.) ; this something, which appertains to the +essence of the mind, will necessarily be eternal. Q.E.D. + Note.-This idea, which expresses the essence of the body +under the form of eternity, is, as we have said, a certain mode +of thinking, which belongs to the essence of the mind, and is +necessarily eternal. Yet it is not possible that we should +remember that we existed before our body, for our body can bear +no trace of such existence, neither can eternity be defined in +terms of time, or have any relation to time. But, +notwithstanding, we feel and know that we are eternal. For the +mind feels those things that it conceives by understanding, no +less than those things that it remembers. For the eyes of the +mind, whereby it sees and observes things, are none other than +proofs. Thus, although we do not remember that we existed before +the body, yet we feel that our mind, in so far as it involves the +essence of the body, under the form of eternity, is eternal, and +that thus its existence cannot be defined in terms of time, or +explained through duration. Thus our mind can only be said to +endure, and its existence can only be defined by a fixed time, in +so far as it involves the actual existence of the body. Thus far +only has it the power of determining the existence of things by +time, and conceiving them under the category of duration. + +PROP. XXIV. The more we understand particular things, the more +do we understand God. + Proof.-This is evident from I. xxv. Coroll. + +PROP. XXV. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest +virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge. + Proof.-The third kind of knowledge proceeds from an adequate +idea of certain attributes of God to an adequate knowledge of the +essence of things (see its definition II. xl. note. ii.) ; and, +in proportion as we understand things more in this way, we better +understand God (by the last Prop.) ; therefore (IV. xxviii.) the +highest virtue of the mind, that is IV. Def. viii.) the power, or +nature, or (III. vii.) highest endeavour of the mind, is to +understand things by the third kind of knowledge. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVI. In proportion as the mind is more capable of +understanding things by the third kind of knowledge, it desires +more to understand things by that kind. + Proof-This is evident. For, in so far as we conceive the +mind to be capable of conceiving things by this kind of +knowledge, we, to that extent, conceive it as determined thus to +conceive things ; and consequently (Def. of the Emotions, i.), +the mind desires so to do, in proportion as it is more capable +thereof. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVII. From this third kind of knowledge arises the +highest possible mental acquiescence. + Proof.-The highest virtue of the mind is to know God (IV. +xxviii.), or to understand things by the third kind of knowledge +(V. xxv.), and this virtue is greater in proportion as the mind +knows things more by the said kind of knowledge (V. xxiv.) : +consequently, he who knows things by this kind of knowledge +passes to the summit of human perfection, and is therefore (Def. +of the Emotions, ii.) affected by the highest pleasure, such +pleasure being accompanied by the idea of himself and his own +virtue ; thus (Def. of the Emotions, xxv.), from this kind of +knowledge arises the highest possible acquiescence. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXVIII. The endeavour or desire to know things by the +third kind of knowledge cannot arise from the first, but from the +second kind of knowledge. + Proof.-This proposition is self-evident. For whatsoever we +understand clearly and distinctly, we understand either through +itself, or through that which is conceived through itself ; that +is, ideas which are clear and distinct in us, or which are +referred to the third kind of knowledge (II. xl. note. ii.) +cannot follow from ideas that are fragmentary and confused, and +are referred to knowledge of the first kind, but must follow from +adequate ideas, or ideas of the second and third kind of +knowledge ; therefore (Def. of the Emotions, i.), the desire of +knowing things by the third kind of knowledge cannot arise from +the first, but from the second kind. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXIX. Whatsoever the mind understands under the form of +eternity, it does not understand by virtue of conceiving the +present actual existence of the body, but by virtue of conceiving +the essence of the body under the form of eternity. + Proof.-In so far as the mind conceives the present existence +of its body, it to that extent conceives duration which can be +determined by time, and to that extent only has it the power of +conceiving things in relation to time (V. xxi. II. xxvi.). But +eternity cannot be explained in terms of duration (I. Def. viii. +and explanation). Therefore to this extent the mind has not the +power of conceiving things under the form of eternity, but it +possesses such power, because it is of the nature of reason to +conceive things under the form of eternity (II. xliv. Coroll. +ii.), and also because it is of the nature of the mind to +conceive the essence of the body under the form of eternity (V. +xxiii.), for besides these two there is nothing which belongs to +the essence of mind (II. xiii.). Therefore this power of +conceiving things under the form of eternity only belongs to the +mind in virtue of the mind's conceiving the essence of the body +under the form of eternity. Q.E.D. + Note.-Things are conceived by us as actual in two ways ; +either as existing +in relation to a given time and place, or as contained in God and +following +from the necessity of the divine nature. Whatsoever we conceive +in this +second way as true or real, we conceive under the form of +eternity, and +their ideas involve the eternal and infinite essence of God, as +we showed +in II. xlv. and note, which see. + +PROP. XXX. Our mind, in so far as it knows itself and the body +under the form of eternity, has to that extent necessarily a +knowledge of God, and knows that it is in God, and is conceived +through God. + Proof.-Eternity is the very essence of God, in so far as this +involves necessary existence (I. Def. viii.). Therefore to +conceive things under the form of eternity, is to conceive things +in so far as they are conceived through the essence of God as +real entities, or in so far as they involve existence through the +essence of God ; wherefore our mind, in so far as it conceives +itself and the body under the form of eternity, has to that +extent necessarily a knowledge of God, and knows, &c. Q.E.D. + +PROP. XXXI. The third kind of knowledge depends on the mind, as +its formal cause, in so far as the mind itself is eternal. + Proof.-The mind does not conceive anything under the form of +eternity, except in so far as it conceives its own body under the +form of eternity (V. xxix.) ; that is, except in so far as it is +eternal (V. xxi. xxiii.) ; therefore (by the last Prop.), in so +far as it is eternal, it possesses the knowledge of God, which +knowledge is necessarily adequate (II. xlvi.) ; hence the mind, +in so far as it is eternal, is capable of knowing everything +which can follow from this given knowledge of God (II. xl.), in +other words, of knowing things by the third kind of knowledge +(see Def. in II. xl. note. ii.), whereof accordingly the mind +(III. Def. i.), in so far as it is eternal, is the adequate or +formal cause of such knowledge. Q.E.D. + Note.-In proportion, therefore, as a man is more potent in +this kind of knowledge, he will be more completely conscious of +himself and of God ; in other words, he will be more perfect and +blessed, as will appear more clearly in the sequel. But we must +here observe that, although we are already certain that the mind +is eternal, in so far as it conceives things under the form of +eternity, yet, in order that what we wish to show may be more +readily explained and better understood, we will consider the +mind itself, as though it had just begun to exist and to +understand things under the form of eternity, as indeed we have +done hitherto ; this we may do without any danger of error, so +long as we are careful not to draw any conclusion, unless our +premisses are plain. + +PROP. XXXII. Whatsoever we understand by the third kind of +knowledge, we take delight in, and our delight is accompanied by +the idea of God as cause. + Proof.-From this kind of knowledge arises the highest +possible mental acquiescence, that is (Def of the Emotions, +xxv.), pleasure, and this acquiescence is accompanied by the idea +of the mind itself (V. xxvii.), and consequently (V. xxx.) the +idea also of God as cause. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-From the third kind of knowledge necessarily +arises the intellectual love of God. From this kind of knowledge +arises pleasure accompanied by the idea of God as cause, that is +(Def. of the Emotions, vi.), the love of God ; not in so far as +we imagine him as present (V. xxix.), but in so far as we +understand him to be eternal ; this is what I call the +intellectual love of God. + +PROP. XXXIII. The intellectual love of God, which arises from +the third kind of knowledge, is eternal. + Proof.-The third kind of knowledge is eternal (V. xxxi. I. +Ax. iii.) ; therefore (by the same Axiom) the love which arises +therefrom is also necessarily eternal. Q.E.D. + Note.-Although this love towards God has (by the foregoing +Prop.) no beginning, it yet possesses all the perfections of +love, just as though it had arisen as we feigned in the Coroll. +of the last Prop. Nor is there here any difference, except that +the mind possesses as eternal those same perfections which we +feigned to accrue to it, and they are accompanied by the idea of +God as eternal cause. If pleasure consists in the transition to +a greater perfection, assuredly blessedness must consist in the +mind being endowed with perfection itself. + +PROP. XXXIV. The mind is, only while the body endures, subject +to those emotions which are attributable to passions. + Proof.-Imagination is the idea wherewith the mind +contemplates a thing as present (II. xvii. note) ; yet this idea +indicates rather the present disposition of the human body than +the nature of the external thing (II. xvi. Coroll. ii.). +Therefore emotion (see general Def. of Emotions) is imagination, +in so far as it indicates the present disposition of the body ; +therefore (V. xxi.) the mind is, only while the body endures, +subject to emotions which are attributable to passions. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that no love save intellectual +love is eternal. + Note.-If we look to men's general opinion, we shall see that +they are indeed conscious of the eternity of their mind, but that +they confuse eternity with duration, and ascribe it to the +imagination or the memory which they believe to remain after +death. + +PROP. XXXV. God loves himself with an infinite intellectual +love. + Proof.-God is absolutely infinite (I. Def. vi.), that is (II. +Def. vi.), the nature of God rejoices in infinite perfection ; +and such rejoicing is (II. iii.) accompanied by the idea of +himself, that is (I. xi. and Def. i.), the idea of his own cause +: now this is what we have (in V. xxxii. Coroll.) described as +intellectual love. + +PROP. XXXVI. The intellectual love of the mind towards God is +that very love of God whereby God loves himself, not in so far as +he is infinite, but in so far as he can be explained through the +essence of the human mind regarded under the form of eternity ; +in other words, the intellectual love of the mind towards God is +part of the infinite love wherewith God loves himself. + Proof.-This love of the mind must be referred to the +activities of the mind (V. xxxii. Coroll. and III. iii.) ; it is +itself, indeed, an activity whereby the mind regards itself +accompanied by the idea of God as cause (V. xxxii. and Coroll.) ; +that is (I. xxv. Coroll. and II. xi. Coroll.), an activity +whereby God, in so far as he can be explained through the human +mind, regards himself accompanied by the idea of himself ; +therefore (by the last Prop.), this love of the mind is part of +the infinite love wherewith God loves himself. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that God, in so far as he loves +himself, loves man, and, consequently, that the love of God +towards men, and the intellectual love of the mind towards God +are identical. + Note.-From what has been said we clearly understand, wherein +our salvation, or blessedness, or freedom, consists : namely, in +the constant and eternal love towards God, or in God's love +towards men. This love or blessedness is, in the Bible, called +Glory, and not undeservedly. For whether this love be referred +to God or to the mind, it may rightly be called acquiescence of +spirit, which (Def. of the Emotions, xxv. xxx.) is not really +distinguished from glory. In so far as it is referred to God, it +is (V. xxxv.) pleasure, if we may still use that term, +accompanied by the idea of itself, and, in so far as it is +referred to the mind, it is the same (V. xxvii.). + Again, since the essence of our mind consists solely in +knowledge, whereof the beginning and the foundation is God (I. +xv., and II. xlvii. note), it becomes clear to us, in what manner +and way our mind, as to its essence and existence, follows from +the divine nature and constantly depends on God. I have thought +it worth while here to call attention to this, in order to show +by this example how the knowledge of particular things, which I +have called intuitive or of the third kind (II. xl. note. ii.), +is potent, and more powerful than the universal knowledge, which +I have styled knowledge of the second kind. For, although in +Part I. I showed in general terms, that all things (and +consequently, also, the human mind) depend as to their essence +and existence on God, yet that demonstration, though legitimate +and placed beyond the chances of doubt, does not affect our mind +so much, as when the same conclusion is derived from the actual +essence of some particular thing, which we say depends on God. + +PROP. XXXVII. There is nothing in nature, which is contrary to +this intellectual love, or which can take it away. + Proof.-This intellectual love follows necessarily from the +nature of the mind, in so far as the latter is regarded through +the nature of God as an eternal truth (V. xxxiii. and xxix.). +If, therefore, there should be anything which would be contrary +to this love, that thing would be contrary to that which is true +; consequently, that, which should be able to take away this +love, would cause that which is true to be false ; an obvious +absurdity. Therefore there is nothing in nature which, &c. +Q.E.D. + Note.-The Axiom of Part IV. has reference to particular +things, in so far as they are regarded in relation to a given +time and place : of this, I think, no one can doubt. + +PROP. XXXVIII. In proportion as the mind understands more things +by the second and third kind of knowledge, it is less subject to +those emotions which are evil, and stands in less fear of death. + Proof.-The mind's essence consists in knowledge (II. xi.) ; +therefore, in proportion as the mind understands more things by +the second and third kinds of knowledge, the greater will be the +part of it that endures (V. xxix. and xxiii.), and, consequently +(by the last Prop.), the greater will be the part that is not +touched by the emotions, which are contrary to our nature, or in +other words, evil (IV. xxx.). Thus, in proportion as the mind +understands more things by the second and third kinds of +knowledge, the greater will be the part of it, that remains +unimpaired, and, consequently, less subject to emotions, &c. +Q.E.D. + Note.-Hence we understand that point which I touched on in +IV. xxxix. note, and which I promised to explain in this Part ; +namely, that death becomes less hurtful, in proportion as the +mind's clear and distinct knowledge is greater, and, +consequently, in proportion as the mind loves God more. Again, +since from the third kind of knowledge arises the highest +possible acquiescence (V. xxvii.), it follows that the human mind +can attain to being of such a nature, that the part thereof which +we have shown to perish with the body (V. xxi.) should be of +little importance when compared with the part which endures. But +I will soon treat of the subject at greater length. + +PROP. XXXIX. He, who possesses a body capable of the greatest +number of activities, possesses a mind whereof the greatest part +is eternal. + Proof.-He, who possesses a body capable of the greatest +number of activities, is least agitated by those emotions which +are evil (IV. xxxviii.)-that is (IV. xxx.), by those emotions +which are contrary to our nature ; therefore (V. x.), he +possesses the power of arranging and associating the +modifications of the body according to the intellectual order, +and, consequently, of bringing it about, that all the +modifications of the body should be referred to the idea of God ; +whence it will come to pass that (V. xv.) he will be affected +with love towards God, which (V. xvi.) must occupy or constitute +the chief part of the mind ; therefore (V. xxxiii.), such a man +will possess a mind whereof the chief part is eternal. Q.E.D. + Note.-Since human bodies are capable of the greatest number +of activities, there is no doubt but that they may be of such a +nature, that they may be referred to minds possessing a great +knowledge of themselves and of God, and whereof the greatest or +chief part is eternal, and, therefore, that they should scarcely +fear death. But, in order that this may be understood more +clearly, we must here call to mind, that we live in a state of +perpetual variation, and, according as we are changed for the +better or the worse, we are called happy or unhappy. + For he, who, from being an infant or a child, becomes a +corpse, is called unhappy ; whereas it is set down to happiness, +if we have been able to live through the whole period of life +with a sound mind in a sound body. And, in reality, he, who, as +in the case of an infant or a child, has a body capable of very +few activities, and depending, for the most part, on external +causes, has a mind which, considered in itself alone, is scarcely +conscious of itself, or of God, or of things ; whereas, he, who +has a body capable of very many activities, has a mind which, +considered in itself alone, is highly conscious of itself, of +God, and of things. In this life, therefore, we primarily +endeavour to bring it about, that the body of a child, in so far +as its nature allows and conduces thereto, may be changed into +something else capable of very many activities, and referable to +a mind which is highly conscious of itself, of God, and of things +; and we desire so to change it, that what is referred to its +imagination and memory may become insignificant, in comparison +with its intellect, as I have already said in the note to the +last Proposition. + +PROP. XL. In proportion as each thing possesses more of +perfection, so is it more active, and less passive ; and, vice +versâ, in proportion as it is more active, so is it more perfect. + Proof.-In proportion as each thing is more perfect, it +possesses more of reality (II. Def. vi.), and, consequently (III. +iii. and note), it is to that extent more active and less +passive. This demonstration may be reversed, and thus prove +that, in proportion as a thing is more active, so is it more +perfect. Q.E.D. + Corollary.-Hence it follows that the part of the mind which +endures, be it great or small, is more perfect than the rest. +For the eternal part of the mind (V. xxiii. xxix.) is the +understanding, through which alone we are said to act (III. iii.) +; the part which we have shown to perish is the imagination (V. +xxi.), through which only we are said to be passive (III. iii. +and general Def. of the Emotions) ; therefore, the former, be it +great or small, is more perfect than the latter. Q.E.D. + Note.-Such are the doctrines which I had purposed to set +forth concerning the mind, in so far as it is regarded without +relation to the body ; whence, as also from I. xxi. and other +places, it is plain that our mind, in so far as it understands, +is an eternal mode of thinking, which is determined by another +eternal mode of thinking, and this other by a third, and so on to +infinity ; so that all taken together at once constitute the +eternal and infinite intellect of God. + +PROP. XLI. Even if we did not know that our mind is eternal, we +should still consider as of primary importance piety and +religion, and generally all things which, in Part IV., we showed +to be attributable to courage and high-mindedness. + Proof.-The first and only foundation of virtue, or the rule +of right living is (IV. xxii. Coroll. and xxiv.) seeking one's +own true interest. Now, while we determined what reason +prescribes as useful, we took no account of the mind's eternity, +which has only become known to us in this Fifth Part. Although +we were ignorant at that time that the mind is eternal, we +nevertheless stated that the qualities attributable to courage +and high-mindedness are of primary importance. Therefore, even +if we were still ignorant of this doctrine, we should yet put the +aforesaid precepts of reason in the first place. Q.E.D. + Note.-The general belief of the multitude seems to be +different. Most people seem to believe that they are free, in so +far as they may obey their lusts, and that they cede their +rights, in so far as they are bound to live according to the +commandments of the divine law. They therefore believe that +piety, religion, and, generally, all things attributable to +firmness of mind, are burdens, which, after death, they hope to +lay aside, and to receive the reward for their bondage, that is, +for their piety and religion ; it is not only by this hope, but +also, and chiefly, by the fear of being horribly punished after +death, that they are induced to live according to the divine +commandments, so far as their feeble and infirm spirit will carry +them. + If men had not this hope and this fear, but believed that the +mind perishes with the body, and that no hope of prolonged life +remains for the wretches who are broken down with the burden of +piety, they would return to their own inclinations, controlling +everything in accordance with their lusts, and desiring to obey +fortune rather than themselves. Such a course appears to me not +less absurd than if a man, because he does not believe that he +can by wholesome food sustain his body for ever, should wish to +cram himself with poisons and deadly fare ; or if, because he +sees that the mind is not eternal or immortal, he should prefer +to be out of his mind altogether, and to live without the use of +reason ; these ideas are so absurd as to be scarcely worth +refuting. + +PROP. XLII. Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue +itself ; neither do we rejoice therein, because we control our +lusts, but, contrariwise, because we rejoice therein, we are able +to control our lusts. + Proof.-Blessedness consists in love towards God (V. xxxvi and +note), which love springs from the third kind of knowledge (V. +xxxii. Coroll.) ; therefore this love (III. iii. lix.) must be +referred to the mind, in so far as the latter is active ; +therefore (IV. Def. viii.) it is virtue itself. This was our +first point. Again, in proportion as the mind rejoices more in +this divine love or blessedness, so does it the more understand +(V. xxxii.) ; that is (V. iii. Coroll.), so much the more power +has it over the emotions, and (V. xxxviii.) so much the less is +it subject to those emotions which are evil ; therefore, in +proportion as the mind rejoices in this divine love or +blessedness, so has it the power of controlling lusts. And, +since human power in controlling the emotions consists solely in +the understanding, it follows that no one rejoices in +blessedness, because he has controlled his lusts, but, +contrariwise, his power of controlling his lusts arises from this +blessedness itself. Q.E.D. + Note.-I have thus completed all I wished to set forth +touching the mind's power over the emotions and the mind's +freedom. Whence it appears, how potent is the wise man, and how +much he surpasses the ignorant man, who is driven only by his +lusts. For the ignorant man is not only distracted in various +ways by external causes without ever gaining the true +acquiescence of his spirit, but moreover lives, as it were +unwitting of himself, and of God, and of things, and as soon as +he ceases to suffer, ceases also to be. + Whereas the wise man, in so far as he is regarded as such, is +scarcely at all disturbed in spirit, but, being conscious of +himself, and of God, and of things, by a certain eternal +necessity, never ceases to be, but always possesses true +acquiescence of his spirit. + If the way which I have pointed out as leading to this result +seems exceedingly hard, it may nevertheless be discovered. Needs +must it be hard, since it is so seldom found. How would it be +possible, if salvation were ready to our hand, and could without +great labour be found, that it should be by almost all men +neglected? But all things excellent are as difficult as they are +rare. + + +End of the Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza + +1 "Affectiones" +2 "Forma" +3 "Animata" +4 A Baconian phrase. Nov. Org. Aph. 100. [Pollock, p. 126, n.] +5 Conscientiæ morsus-thus rendered by Mr. Pollock. +6 By "men" in this and the following propositions, I mean men +whom we regard without any particular emotion. +7 So Van Vloten and Bruder. The Dutch version and Camerer read, +"an internal cause." "Honor" = Gloria. +8 See previous endnote. +9 Ovid, "Amores," II. xix. 4,5. Spinoza transposes the verses. + "Speremus pariter, pariter metuamus amantes ; + Ferreus est, si quis, quod sinit alter, amat." +10 This is possible, though the human mind is part of the divine +intellect, as I have shown in II.xiii.note. +11 Gloria. +12 Ov. Met. vii.20, "Video meliora proboque, Deteriora sequor." +13 Honestas +14 Land reads : "Quod ipsius agendi potentia juvatur"-which I +have translated above. He suggests as alternative readings to +`quod', 'quo' (= whereby) and 'quodque' (= and that). +15 "Maltim praesens minus prae majori futuro." (Van Vloten). +Bruder reads : "Malum praesens minus, quod causa est faturi +alicujus mali." The last word of the latter is an obvious +misprint, and is corrected by the Dutch translator into "majoris +boni." (Pollock, p. 268, note.) +16 Continuo. Rendered "constantly" by Mr. Pollock on the ground +that the classical meaning of the word does not suit the context. +I venture to think, however, that a tolerable sense may be +obtained without doing violence to Spinoza's scholarship. +17 Affectiones. Camerer reads affectus - emotions. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Ethics, by Benedict de Spinoza + |
