Full Idea
Adequate understanding of a phenomenon, for Spinoza, involves a complete understanding of its causes, and this in turn involves a dissolving of the illusion of contingency and a recognition of the necessity of its being thus and not otherwise.
Gist of Idea
To understand a phenomenon, we must understand why it is necessary, not merely contingent
Source
report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]) by John Cottingham - The Rationalists p.168
Book Reference
Cottingham,John: 'The Rationalists' [OUP 1988], p.168
A Reaction
This is the appeal of the rationalist dream. We want a god-like grasp of things, not a superficial perception of what seems to be going on.