Position
Spinozistic Substance Monism
Exactly one substance exists: God or Nature; every finite thing is a mode of that substance.
Classification
- Position level
- specific
- Domains
- Metaphysics
Overview
For Spinoza, substance exists in itself and is conceived through itself. God has infinitely many attributes and leaves no room for a second substance, so minds and bodies are finite modes of the same reality, understood through thought and extension.
Position on
Held by traditions
- Spinozism
Question scope: How Many Fundamental Substances?
Broader position
Incompatible positions
- Substance Dualism
Question scope: How Many Fundamental Substances?
- Leibnizian Substance Pluralism
Question scope: How Many Fundamental Substances?
References
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Baruch Spinoza, §2.1
- Benedict de Spinoza, Ethics, Part I, propositions 14–15
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Spinoza’s Physical Theory, §4 (Spinoza rejects Descartes’ extended and mental substances in favor of one substance)
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Neutral Monism, §2 (Spinoza’s view is monist because it allows only one substance)