E5P25D
Demonstration — Part V
Latin
Tertium cognitionis genus procedit ab adæquata idea quorundam Dei attributorum ad adæquatam cognitionem essentiæ rerum (vide hujus definitionem in II scholio propositionis 40 partis II) et quo magis hoc modo res intelligimus eo magis (per propositionem præcedentem) Deum intelligimus ac proinde (per propositionem 28 partis IV) summa mentis virtus hoc est (per definitionem 8 partis IV) mentis potentia seu natura sive (per propositionem 7 partis III) summus conatus est res intelligere tertio cognitionis genere. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
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.
Modern English
The third kind of knowledge proceeds from an adequate idea of certain attributes of God to adequate knowledge of the essence of things (E2P40S2). The more we understand things in this way, the more we understand God (E5P24). Therefore (E4P28) the mind's highest virtue, that is (E4D8), the mind's power, or nature, or (E3P7) its highest *conatus*, is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge. Q.E.D.