Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Spinoza's Ethics: I.P36: Expressiveness

In this proposition, Spinoza outlines the manifestation of the expressive power or potentia of God. I say expressive power as opposed to the controlling power or potestas. Within existence is a specific form of the expressive power of God from which an effect will follow. This effect is not a purposeful event, but a resulting event - highlighting nature's movement from rather than our illusory movement to. 

 
Nihil existit ex cujus natura aliquis effectus non sequatur.

Translated as,

Nothing exists from whose nature some effect does not follow.

DEMONSTRATIO: Quicquid existit, Dei naturam sive essentiam certo et determinato modo exprimit (per corollarium propositionis 25) hoc est (per propositionem 34) quicquid existit, Dei potentiam quæ omnium rerum causa est, certo et determinato modo exprimit adeoque (per propositionem 16) ex eo aliquis effectus sequi debet. Q.E.D. 

Translated as,

Whatever exists, expresses the nature or essence of God in a certain and determinate manner (by P25C) that is (by P34) whatever exists, expresses the power of God which is the cause of all things, in a certain and determinate manner to such a degree (by P16) that from this some effect must follow.

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