Ethics, part 1 | Page 5

if he
said that he had a true idea, but was not sure whether or no it was false
(a little consideration will make this plain); or if anyone affirmed that
substance is created, it would be the same as saying that a false idea
was true--in short, the height of absurdity. It must, then, necessarily be
admitted that the existence of substance as its essence is an eternal truth.
And we can hence conclude by another process of reasoning--that there
is but one such substance. I think that this may profitably be done at

once; and, in order to proceed regularly with the demonstration, we
must premise:--
+++++1. The true definition of a thing neither involves nor expresses
anything beyond the nature of the thing defined. From this it follows
that--
+++++2. No definition implies or expresses a certain number of
individuals, inasmuch as it expresses nothing beyond the nature of the
thing defined. For instance, the definition of a triangle expresses
nothing beyond the actual nature of a triangle: it does not imply any
fixed number of triangles.
+++++3. There is necessarily for each individual existent thing a cause
why it should exist.
+++++4. This cause of existence must either be contained in the nature
and definition of the thing defined, or must be postulated apart from
such definition.
It therefore follows that, if a given number of individual things exist in
nature, there must be some cause for the existence of exactly that
number, neither more nor less. For example, if twenty men exist in the
universe (for simplicity's sake, I will suppose them existing
simultaneously, and to have had no predecessors), and we want to
account for the existence of these twenty men, it will not be enough to
show the cause of human existence in general; we must also show why
there are exactly twenty men, neither more nor less: for a cause must be
assigned for the existence of each individual. Now this cause cannot be
contained in the actual nature of man, for the true definition of man
does not involve any consideration of the number twenty. Consequently,
the cause for the existence of these twenty men, and, consequently, of
each of them, must necessarily be sought externally to each individual.
Hence we may lay down the absolute rule, that everything which may
consist of several individuals must have an external cause. And, as it
has been shown already that existence appertains to the nature of
substance, existence must necessarily be included in its definition; and
from its definition alone existence must be deducible. But from its
definition (as we have shown, Notes ii., iii.), we cannot infer the
existence of several substances; therefore it follows that there is only
one substance of the same nature. Q.E.D.
IX. The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the number of its

attributes (Def. iv.).
X. Each particular attribute of the one substance must be conceived
through itself.
>>>>>Proof--An attribute is that which the intellect perceives of
substance, as constituting its essence (Def. iv.), and, therefore, must be
conceived through itself (Def. iii.). Q.E.D.
*****Note--It is thus evident that, though two attributes are, in fact,
conceived as distinct--that is, one without the help of the other--yet we
cannot, therefore, conclude that they constitute two entities, or two
different substances. For it is the nature of substance that each of its
attributes is conceived through itself, inasmuch as all the attributes it
has have always existed simultaneously in it, and none could be
produced by any other; but each expresses the reality or being of
substance. It is, then, far from an absurdity to ascribe several attributes
to one substance: for nothing in nature is more clear than that each and
every entity must be conceived under some attribute, and that its reality
or being is in proportion to the number of its attributes expressing
necessity or eternity and infinity. Consequently it is abundantly clear,
that an absolutely infinite being must necessarily be defined as
consisting in infinite attributes, each of which expresses a certain
eternal and infinite essence.
If anyone now ask, by what sign shall he be able to distinguish different
substances, let him read the following propositions, which show that
there is but one substance in the universe, and that it is absolutely
infinite, wherefore such a sign would be sought in vain.
XI. God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, of which each
expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, necessarily exists.
>>>>>Proof--If this be denied, conceive, if possible, that God does not
exist: then his essence does not involve existence. But this (Prop. vii.)
is absurd. Therefore God necessarily exists.
>>>>>Another proof--Of everything whatsoever a cause or reason
must be assigned, either for its existence, or for its non-existence--e.g.
if a triangle exist,