the ethics(part v)-第6节
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(II:xl。); in other words; of knowing things by the third kind of knowledge
(see Def。 in II:xl。Note。ii。); whereof accordingly the mind (III:Def。i。); in
so far as it is eternal; is the adequate or formal cause of such knowledge。
Q。E。D。
Note。… In proportion; therefore; as a man is more potent in this kind of
knowledge; he will be more completely conscious of himself and of God; in
other words; he will be more perfect and blessed; as will appear more
clearly in the sequel。 But we must here observe that; although we are
already certain that the mind is eternal; in so far as it conceives things
under the form of eternity; yet; in order that what we wish to show may be
more readily explained and better understood; we will consider the mind
itself; as though it had just begun to exist and to understand things under
the form of eternity; as indeed we have done hitherto; this we may do
without any danger of error; so long as we are careful not to draw any
conclusion; unless our premisses are plain。
Prop。 XXXII。 Whatsoever we understand by the third kind of
knowledge; we take delight in; and our delight is accompanied by
the idea of God as cause。
Proof。… From this kind of knowledge arises the highest possible mental
acquiescence; that is (Def of the Emotions:xxv。); pleasure; and this
acquiescence is accompanied by the idea of the mind itself (V。 xxvii。); and
consequently (V:xxx。) the idea also of God as cause。 Q。E。D。
Corollary。… From the third kind of knowledge necessarily arises the
intellectual love of God。 From this kind of knowledge arises pleasure
accompanied by the idea of God as cause; that is (Def。 of the Emotions:vi。);
the love of God; not in so far as we imagine him as present (V:xxix。); but
in so far as we understand him to be eternal; this is what I call the
intellectual love of God。
Prop。 XXXIII。 The intellectual love of God;
which arises from the third kind of knowledge;
is eternal。
Proof。… The third kind of knowledge is eternal (V:xxxi。; I:Ax。iii。);
therefore (by the same Axiom) the love which arises therefrom is also
necessarily eternal。 Q。E。D。
Note。… Although this love towards God has (by the foregoing Prop。) no
beginning; it yet possesses all the perfections of love; just as though it
had arisen as we feigned in the Coroll。 of the last Prop。 Nor is there here
any difference; except that the mind possesses as eternal those same
perfections which we feigned to accrue to it; and they are accompanied by
the idea of God as eternal cause。 If pleasure consists in the transition to
a greater perfection; assuredly blessedness must consist in the mind being
endowed with perfection itself。
Prop。 XXX。IV。 The mind is; only while the body
endures; subject to those emotions which are
attributable to passions。
Proof。 Imagination is the idea wherewith the mind contemplates a thing as
present (II:xvii。Note); yet this idea indicates rather the present
disposition of the human body than the nature of the external thing
(II:xvi。Coroll。ii。)。 Therefore emotion (see general Def。 of Emotions)
is imagination; in so far as it indicates the present disposition of the
body; therefore (V:xxi。) the mind is; only while the body endures; subject
to emotions which are attributable to passions。 Q。E。D。
Corollary。… Hence it follows that no love save intellectual love is eternal。
Note。… If we look to men's general opinion; we shall see that they are
indeed conscious of the eternity of their mind; but that they confuse
eternity with duration; and ascribe it to the imagination or the memory
which they believe to remain after death。
Prop。 XXXV。 God loves himself with
an infinite intellectual love。
Proof。… God is absolutely infinite (I:Def。vi。); that is (II:Def。vi。); the
nature of God rejoices in infinite perfection; and such rejoicing is
(II:iii。) accompanied by the idea of himself; that is (I:xi。 and I:Def。i。);
the idea of his own cause: now this is what we have (in V:xxxii。Coroll。)
described as intellectual love。
Prop。 XXXVI。 The intellectual love of the mind towards God is
that very love of God whereby God loves himself; not in so far as
he is infinite; but in so far as he can be explained through
the essence of the human mind regarded under the form of
eternity; in other words; the intellectual love of the mind towards
God is part of the infinite love wherewith God loves himself。
Proof。… (1) This love of the mind must be referred to the activities of the
mind (V:xxxii。Coroll。 and III:iii。); it is itself; indeed; an activity
whereby the mind regards itself accompanied by the idea of God as cause
(V:xxxii。&Coroll。); that is (I:xxv。Coroll。 and II:xi。Coroll。); an activity
whereby God; in so far as he can be explained through the human mind;
regards himself accompanied by the idea of himself; therefore (by the last
Prop。); this love of the mind is part of the infinite love wherewith God
loves himself。 Q。E。D。
Corollary。… Hence it follows that God; in so far as he loves himself; loves
man; and; consequently; that the love of God towards men; and the
intellectual love of the mind towards God are identical。
Note。… From what has been said we clearly understand; wherein our salvation;
or blessedness; or freedom; consists: namely; in the constant and eternal
love towards God; or in God's love towards men。 This love or blessedness is;
in the Bible; called Glory and not undeservedly。 For whether this love be
referred to God or to the mind; it may rightly be called acquiescence of
spirit; which (Def。 of the Emotions:xxv。; and xxx。) is not really
distinguished from glory。 In so far as it is referred to God; it is
(V:xxxv。) pleasure; if we may still use that term; accompanied by the idea
of itself; and; in so far as it is referred to the mind; it is the same
(V:xxvii。)。
Again; since the essence of our mind consists solely in knowledge; whereof
the beginning and the foundation is God (I:xv。; &II:xlvii。Note); it becomes
clear to us; in what manner and way our mind; as to its essence and
existence; follows from the divine nature and constantly depends on God。 I
have thought it worth while here to call attention to this; in order to show
by this example how the knowledge of particular things; which I have called
intuitive or of the third kind (II:xl。Note。ii。); is potent; and more
powerful than the universal knowledge; which I have styled knowledge of the
second kind。 For; although in Part I showed in general terms; that all
things (and consequently; also; the human mind) depend as to their essence
and existence on God; yet that demonstration; though legitimate and placed
beyond the chances of doubt; does not affect our mind so much; as when the
same conclusion is derived from the actual essence of some particular thing;
which we say depends on God。
Prop。 XXXVII。 There is nothing in nature;
which is contrary to this intellectual love;
or which can take it away。
Proof。… This intellectual love follows necessarily from the nature of the
mind; in so far as the latter is regarded through the nature of God as an
eternal truth (V:xxxiii。 and V:xxix。)。 If; therefore; there should be
anything which would be contrary to this love; that thing would be
contrary to that which is true; consequently; that; which should be able to
take away this love; would cause that which is true to be false; an obvious
absurdity。 Therefore there is nothing in nature which; &c。 Q。E。D。
Note。… The Axiom of Part IV。 has reference to particular things; in so far
as they are regarded in relation to a given time and place: of this; I
think; no one can doubt。
Prop。 XXXVIII。 In proportion as the mind understands more
things by the second and third kind of knowledge; it is less
subject to those emotions which are evil; and stands in less
fear of death。
Proof。… The mind's essence consists in knowledge (II:xi。); therefore; in
proportion as the mind understands more things by the second and third kinds
of knowledge; the greater will be the part of it that endures (V:xxix。 and
V:xxiii。); and; consequently (by the last Prop。); the greater will be the
part that is not touched by the emotions; which are contrary to our nature;
or in other words; evil (IV:xxx。)。 Thus; in proportion as the mind
understands more things by the second and third kinds of knowledge; the
greater will be the part of it; that remains unimpaired; and; consequently;
less subject to emotions; &c。 Q。E。D。
Note。… Hence we understand that point which I touched on in IV:xxxix。Note;
and which I promised to explain in this Part; namely; th