“ 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 | knowledge 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
“
PROP. XXIV. The more we understand particular things, the more do we understand God.
Proof.—This is evident from I. xxv. Coroll.
PROP. xxv. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.
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. xl. note. ii.) ; and, in proportion as we understand things more in this way, we better understand God (by the last Prop.)” source
PROP. XXIV. The more we understand particular things, the more do we understand God.
Proof.—This is evident from I. xxv. Coroll.
PROP. xxv. The highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue is to understand things by the third kind of knowledge.
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. xl. note. ii.) ; and, in proportion as we understand things more in this way, we better understand God (by the last Prop.)” source
Meaning and analysis
