Weekly Elightenment 1 | Page 9

A Dutch Cartesian by the name of Baruch Spinoza has come to his conclusion through geometric ethics that he has gone beyond Descartes by proving that the universe is composed of a single substance that is both God and Nature. His argument may be briefly described below:

(1) Every substance has a nature or essence.

(2) Attributes are what are perceived to constitute natures or essences.

(3) There cannot exist two substances that have the same nature or essence.

(4) So, there cannot exist two substances that have the same attribute.

(5) A substance having more than one attribute is possible, depending on its nature or essence.

These statements are simplified as:

(1*) An infinite substance is a substance with an infinite number of attributes.

(2*) It is possible for an infinite substance to exist.

(3*) It belongs to the nature of substance to exist.

(4*) So, an infinite substance exists. (from 1*-3*)

(5*) If an infinite substance exists, then it is the only substance that exists.

All of these statements are leading up to Spinoza’s grand conclusion. His conclusion is that there is only one substance in our universe, and that one substance is god. everything that exists in our universe is of god which means made by god.