more from Baruch de Spinoza

Single Idea 7609

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature]

Full Idea

For Spinoza God is simply the principle of law, the sum of all the eternal laws in existence.

Gist of Idea

God is the sum and principle of all eternal laws

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]) by Karen Armstrong - A History of God Ch.9

Book Reference

Armstrong,Karen: 'A History of God' [Mandarin 1993], p.358


A Reaction

This seems at variance with the usual view, that Spinoza identifies God with the single substance which makes up nature, and that he is hence a pantheist. Compare the above idea with Idea 4829, for example. Spinoza's God seems close to Aristotle's.

Related Idea

Idea 4859 Pleasure is only bad in so far as it hinders a man's capability for action [Spinoza]