Single Idea 17181

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 2. Pantheism]

Full Idea

God is not only the efficient cause of the existence of things, but also of their essence.

Gist of Idea

God is the efficient cause of essences, as well as of existences

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], I Pr 25)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.25


A Reaction

This is close to Leibniz's view that the so-called 'laws of nature' are not imposed by God from outside, but are rooted with nature, in the essences of what has been created (which is modern scientific essentialism).