【英文原著类】EthicsII(伦理学(二)).pdf

THE ETHICS
THE ETHICS
Part II: ON THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF THE
MIND
By Spinoza
Translated by R. H. M. Elwes
1
THE ETHICS
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 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. Cor.)
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.
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.
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).
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.
VI. 'Realit