Singular things are made up of parts and parts are made up of parts.
For that reason, Spinoza needs to address a way to discuss singular
things in order to address cause and effect. As reality is infinitely
complex, he sets up a principle that allows him to discuss a
"singularity" in which the coordinated function of parts is apparent.
This is truly definitional.
Per res singulares intelligo res quæ finitæ sunt et determinatam habent existentiam. Quod si plura individua in una actione ita concurrant ut omnia simul unius effectus sint causa, eadem omnia eatenus ut unam rem singularem considero.
Translated as,
By singular things I understand things which are finite and have determinate existence. But if more individuals occur in one action so that all things might be the cause of one effect, I consider all these same things as though they are one singular thing.
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