God is the only true substance from "summary" of Spinoza: Ethics by Benedictus de Spinoza
In the system of Spinoza, God is posited as the only true substance. This notion may seem perplexing at first glance, but upon closer examination, its simplicity becomes apparent. For Spinoza, substance is that which exists in itself and is conceived through itself. In other words, it is that which does not require anything else for its existence or conception. God, according to Spinoza, possesses this characteristic in the highest degree. By defining God as the only true substance, Spinoza is making a bold assertion about the nature of reality. He is claiming that all that exists, whether material or mental, is an expression of God's essence. This means that everything in the world, including ourselves, is ultimately dependent on and derived from God. In this way, God is not only the creator of the world but is also immanent within it. Spinoza further elaborates on this concept by distinguishing between God's attributes and modes. Attributes are the essential aspects of God's nature, such as extension and thought, which constitute the basis of all things. Modes, on the other hand, are the particular ways in which these attributes are expressed in the world. For Spinoza, everything that exists is a mode of God's attributes, thereby reinforcing the idea that God is the only true substance.- Spinoza presents us with a vision of God as the fundamental reality underlying all existence. By understanding God as the only true substance, we are prompted to reevaluate our relationship to the world and to see ourselves as intimately connected to the divine. Ultimately, Spinoza's philosophy invites us to contemplate the profound unity and interdependence of all things in the universe.
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