Part I
Concerning God
Spinoza's metaphysical foundation: substance, attribute, mode, and the necessary existence of God, identified with Nature.
Definitions(8)
E1D1By that which is self--caused, I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only…E1D2A thing is called finite after its kind, when it can be limited by another thing of the same nature; for instance, a…E1D3By substance, I mean that which is in itself, and is conceived through itself: in other words, that of which a…E1D4By attribute, I mean that which the intellect perceives as constituting the essence of substance.E1D5By mode, I mean the modifications[1] of substance, or that which exists in, and is conceived through, something other…E1D6By God, I mean a being absolutely infinite--that is, a substance consisting in infinite attributes, of which each…E1D7That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is…E1D8By eternity, I mean existence itself, in so far as it is conceived necessarily to follow solely from the definition of…
Axioms(7)
E1A1Everything which exists, exists either in itself or in something else.E1A2That which cannot be conceived through anything else must be conceived through itself.E1A3From a given definite cause an effect necessarily follows; and, on the other hand, if no definite cause be granted, it…E1A4The knowledge of an effect depends on and involves the knowledge of a cause.E1A5Things which have nothing in common cannot be understood, the one by means of the other; the conception of one does not…E1A6A true idea must correspond with its ideate or object.E1A7If a thing can be conceived as non--existing, its essence does not involve existence.
Propositions(36)
E1P1Substance is by nature prior to its modifications.E1P2Two substances, whose attributes are different, have nothing in common.E1P3Things which have nothing in common cannot be one the cause of the other.E1P4Two or more distinct things are distinguished one from the other, either by the difference of the attributes of the…E1P5There cannot exist in the universe two or more substances having the same nature or attribute.E1P6One substance cannot be produced by another substance.E1P7Existence belongs to the nature of substances.E1P8Every substance is necessarily infinite.E1P9The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the number of its attributes (Def. iv.).E1P10Each particular attribute of the one substance must be conceived through itself.E1P11God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality,…E1P12No attribute of substance can be conceived from which it would follow that substance can be divided.E1P13Substance absolutely infinite is indivisible.E1P14Besides God no substance can be granted or conceived.E1P15Whatsoever is, is in God, and without God nothing can be, or be conceived.E1P16From the necessity of the divine nature must follow an infinite number of things in infinite ways--that is, all things…E1P17God acts solely by the laws of his own nature, and is not constrained by anyone.E1P18God is the indwelling and not the transient cause of all things.E1P19God, and all the attributes of God, are eternal.E1P20The existence of God and his essence are one and the same.E1P21All things which follow from the absolute nature of any attribute of God must always exist and be infinite, or, in…E1P22Whatsoever follows from any attribute of God, in so far as it is modified by a modification, which exists necessarily…E1P23Every mode, which exists both necessarily and as infinite, must necessarily follow either from the absolute nature of…E1P24The essence of things produced by God does not involve existence.E1P25God is the efficient cause not only of the existence of things, but also of their essence.E1P26A thing which is conditioned to act in a particular manner, has necessarily been thus conditioned by God; and that…E1P27A thing, which has been conditioned by God to act in a particular way, cannot render itself unconditioned.E1P28Every individual thing, or everything which is finite and has a conditioned existence, cannot exist or be conditioned…E1P29Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular manner by…E1P30Intellect, in function (actu) finite, or in function infinite, must comprehend the attributes of God and the…E1P31The intellect in function, whether finite or infinite, as will, desire, love, &c., should be referred to passive nature…E1P32Will cannot be called a free cause, but only a necessary cause.E1P33Things could not have been brought into being by God in any manner or in any order different from that which has in…E1P34God's power is identical with his essence.E1P35Whatsoever we conceive to be in the power of God, necessarily exists.E1P36There is no cause from whose nature some effect does not follow.