PHIL 151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Baruch Spinoza, Omnipotence, Euthyphro Dilemma
19 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Leibniz
Comparisons between philosophers
Descartes Spinoza Leibniz
Metaphysical system Dualism Monism (naturalism) Monism (Idealism)
Ontology 1. God
2. Thinking
Substance
3. Extended
Substance
God/Nature Monads
Conception of God Theistic Pantheistic Theistic
Leibniz believes that the universe is composed substantially of minds
Monads are simple substances
Substance
Descartes = created substances are individuated by their primary attribute which is related to
their essence
Spinoza = only one substance God/Nature (there are no substances which are distance from it)
Monism: Leibniz vs. Spinoza
Both Leibniz and Spinoza assert there is only type of substance that makes up the fabric of
reality
oSpinoza is more extreme than Leibniz because he says there is only one being
constituted by that substance
Leibniz is a Substance Monist
There is only one type of substance
Spinoza is a Absolute monist
There is only one type of substance, and there is only one individual
substance
Leibniz on God: Back to Basics
Very traditional
Concept about perfection
oInfinite vs. Perfection
Perfection is normative (has a value attached)
The Argument from Perfection
P1. God is an absolutely perfect being
P2. Power and knowledge are perfections, and so Gods power and knowledge have no limits
P3. God is morally perfect, and so is inclined to act in the most perfect matter
Conc1. Therefore God acts in the most perfect manner
Ho does God Choose?
God chooses on the basis of goodness or perfection inherent in what he chooses or in
accordance with that he calls the "rules of goodness"
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Document Summary
Leibniz believes that the universe is composed substantially of minds. Descartes = created substances are individuated by their primary attribute which is related to their essence. Spinoza = only one substance god/nature (there are no substances which are distance from it) Both leibniz and spinoza assert there is only type of substance that makes up the fabric of reality o. Spinoza is more extreme than leibniz because he says there is only one being constituted by that substance. There is only one type of substance, and there is only one individual substance. Power and knowledge are perfections, and so gods power and knowledge have no limits. God is morally perfect, and so is inclined to act in the most perfect matter. Therefore god acts in the most perfect manner. Descartes believed that god"s choices themselves make the thing she chooses good o o. The fact that god chooses or wills something makes that thing good.
