Single Idea 21856

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof]

Full Idea

Spinoza does not argue from the concept of God to his existence; he argues that a substance of infinite attributes cannot not exist.

Gist of Idea

Spinoza says a substance of infinite attributes cannot fail to exist

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], I Def 6) by Beth Lord - Spinoza's Ethics 1 P11

Book Reference

Lord,Beth: 'Spinoza's Ethics' [Indiana 2010], p.29


A Reaction

Lord is explicit that this is NOT the argument used by Anselm and Descartes. I'm not clear why there has to be a substance of infinite attributes, but presumably that is explained somewhere.

Related Idea

Idea 21858 God is being as such, and you cannot conceive of the non-existence of being [Spinoza, by Lord]