Single Idea 21858

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

Full Idea

Spinoza argues that you cannot conceive the non-existence of God because you cannot conceive the non-existence of being. God, or a substance of infinite attributes, is being as such.

Gist of Idea

God is being as such, and you cannot conceive of the non-existence of being

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], I Pr 11) by Beth Lord - Spinoza's Ethics I P11

Book Reference

Lord,Beth: 'Spinoza's Ethics' [Indiana 2010], p.30


A Reaction

I'm not clear why I cannot conceive of nothing whatever existing. I can conceive of my fridge being empty, so conceiving non-being is not off limits. Not that inconceivability is an infallible guide to impossibility…

Related Idea

Idea 21856 Spinoza says a substance of infinite attributes cannot fail to exist [Spinoza, by Lord]