[The Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza]@TWC D-Link book
The Ethics

PART I
11/90

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.


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