From earlier discussions, we found that substance is self-caused
(I.D3 and I.D1). If it is self-caused, its essence must involve
existence. But these observations were made with the verb "conceive" or concipit rather than this verb "perceive" or percipit. By bringing in two new words,"intellect" or intellectus and "perceive" or percipit, Spinoza is bringing a different level of engagement to bear. Confirming this more forcefully is the presence of tanquam
which has more of the sense of the translation "as if" than "as." Spinoza has stepped from the a realm of a "view from nowhere"
in the first three definitions with a general logic (mathematically
delimiting, but non-numerical) to a "view from somewhere" with a defined
degree of specificity or number, from Knowing to Thinking.
Per attributum intelligo id quod intellectus de substantia percipit tanquam ejusdem essentiam constituens.
Translated as,
By attribute I understand that which the intellect perceives of a substance as if constituting its essence.
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