“ PROP. XXV. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge. ”
Baruch Spinoza, Ethics (1677). copy citation
| Author | Baruch Spinoza |
|---|---|
| Source | Ethics |
| Topic | understanding virtue |
| Date | 1677 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by R. H. M. Elwes |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3800/3800-h/3800-h.htm |
Context
“Thus far only has it the power of determining the existence of things by time, and conceiving them under the category of duration.
PROP. XXIV. The more we understand particular things, the more do we understand God.
xxv. Proof.—This is evident from I. Coroll.
PROP. XXV. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.
xl. note. ii.) ; and, in proportion as we understand things more in this way, we better understand God (by the last Prop.) ; therefore (IV. xxviii.) the highest virtue of the mind, that is (IV. Proof.—The third kind of knowledge proceeds from an adequate idea of certain attributes of God to an adequate knowledge of the essence of things (see its definition II. Def. viii.) the power, or nature, or (III. vii.) highest endeavour of the mind, is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.” source
PROP. XXIV. The more we understand particular things, the more do we understand God.
xxv. Proof.—This is evident from I. Coroll.
PROP. XXV. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.
xl. note. ii.) ; and, in proportion as we understand things more in this way, we better understand God (by the last Prop.) ; therefore (IV. xxviii.) the highest virtue of the mind, that is (IV. Proof.—The third kind of knowledge proceeds from an adequate idea of certain attributes of God to an adequate knowledge of the essence of things (see its definition II. Def. viii.) the power, or nature, or (III. vii.) highest endeavour of the mind, is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.” source
