On the Improvement of the Understanding by Benedict Spinoza

Author:Benedict Spinoza [Spinoza, Benedict]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, novel, book, bestseller, top10, interactive media, urban romantics
Publisher: The Big Nest
Published: 2019-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

ENDNOTES

[a] (1) This might be explained more at large and more clearly: I mean by distinguishing riches according as they are pursued for their own sake, in or furtherance of fame, or sensual pleasure, or the advancement of science and art. (2) But this subject is reserved to its own place, for it is not here proper to investigate the matter more accurately.

[b] These considerations should be set forth more precisely.

[c] These matters are explained more at length elsewhere.

[d] N.B. I do no more here than enumerate the sciences necessary for our purpose; I lay no stress on their order.

[e] There is for the sciences but one end, to which they should all be directed.

[f] (1) In this case we do not understand anything of the cause from the consideration of it in the effect. (2) This is sufficiently evident from the fact that the cause is only spoken of in very general terms, such as--there exists then something; there exists then some power, &c.; or from the that we only express it in a negative manner--it is not or that, &c. (3) In the second case something is ascribed to the cause because of the effect, as we shall show in an example, but only a property, never an essence.

[g] (1) From this example may be clearly seen what I have just drawn attention to. (2) For through this union we understand nothing beyond the sensation, the effect, to wit, from which we inferred the cause of which we understand nothing.

[h] (1) A conclusion of this sort, though it be certain, is yet not to be relied on without great caution; for unless we are exceedingly careful we shall forthwith fall into error. (2) When things are conceived thus abstractedly, and not through their true essence, they are apt to be confused by the imagination. (3) For that which is in itself one, men imagine to be multiplex. (4) To those things which are conceived abstractedly, apart, and confusedly, terms are applied which are apt to become wrested from their strict meaning, and bestowed on things more familiar; whence it results that these latter are imagined in the same way as the former to which the terms were originally given.

[i] I shall here treat a little more in detail of experience, and shall examine the method adopted by the Empirics, and by recent philosophers.

[k] By native strength, I mean that not bestowed on us by external causes, as I shall afterwards explain in my philosophy.

[l] Here I term them operations: I shall explain their nature in my philosophy.

[m] I shall take care not only to demonstrate what I have just advanced, but also that we have hitherto proceeded rightly, and other things needful to be known.

[33 note1] (1) In modern language, “the idea may become the subject of another presentation.” (2) Objectivus generally corresponds to the modern “subjective,” formalis to the modern “objective.” [Trans.- Note 1]

[n] (1) Observe that we are not here inquiring how the first subjective essence is innate in us.

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