back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 20311

[from 'The Ethics' by Baruch de Spinoza, in 18. Thought / C. Content / 2. Ideas ]

Full Idea

An idea, insofar as it is an idea, involves an affirmation or negation.

Gist of Idea

An idea involves affirmation or negation

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], II Pr 49 sII)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. Curley,Edwin [Penguin 1996], p.64


A Reaction

Spinoza clearly distinguishes ideas from images, and here seems to identify ideas with propositions. Nowadays we say these are 'true or false', but Spinoza is more personal and psychological. I prefer his way of putting it.

Related Idea

Idea 5776 A proposition is what we believe when we believe truly or falsely [Russell]