Essence and existence: two orders of causality, deduction of finite modes and freedom in Spinoza's philosophy

Authors

  • Giorgio Ferreira Universidade do Estado da Bahia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2447-9012.espinosa.2023.202734

Keywords:

Essence, Existence, Causality, Determination, Freedom

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the possibility of conciliation between determination and freedom in Spinoza. Thus, the article will begin by dealing with the two causal series indicated by Spinoza in §100 of the TIE: the “series of fixed and eternal things” and the “series of mutable particular things”. The approach of these two causal series allows to understand what distinguishes them and the implications of this distinction for Spinoza’s philosophy. In sequence, the notions of objective essence and formal essence will be analyzed, showing that EIIP7 deals with the adequacy between these two essences, and not an adequacy between essence and existence. At this point, it will also be shown that the type of causality that is at stake in EIIP7 and EIIP8 is an immanent causality, of the whole-part type, which takes place between the set and its subsets: to be a part is to be a subset of God. Next, it will be shown that within the scope of the existence of the subsets — and not within the scope of their essence — it is possible to occur relative autonomy between peers, provided that this autonomy is conceived as subordinate to the previous sets. At this point, it will also be shown to what extent finite modes can be deduced from the infinite substance without this implying the denial of its freedom.

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References

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Published

2023-06-30

Issue

No. 48 (2023)

Section

Artigos

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Copyright (c) 2023 Giorgio Ferreira

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How to Cite

Ferreira, G. (2023). Essence and existence: two orders of causality, deduction of finite modes and freedom in Spinoza’s philosophy. Cadernos Espinosanos, 48, 41-74. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2447-9012.espinosa.2023.202734