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Single Idea 20309

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / B. Logical Consequence / 5. Modus Ponens]

Full Idea

Whatever ideas follow in the mind from ideas which are adequate in the mind are also adequate.

Gist of Idea

If our ideas are adequate, what follows from them is also adequate

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], II Pr 40)

A Reaction

This appears to be Modus Ponens, and he calls it (in Sch 1) 'the foundations of our reasoning'. If 'adequate' ideas are knowledge, then this also seems to say that knowledge is closed under known implication.

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. Curley,Edwin [Penguin 1996], p.55