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Spinoza's Conatus Argument

Garrett, Don·2002·Spinoza: Metaphysical Themes
DOI 10.1093/019512815x.003.0008
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Abstract

This essay contends that Spinoza’s argument for the conatus doctrine does not commit any of the five fallacies of equivocation. The key to a better understanding of his argument lies in a Spinoza’s “theory of inherence” — that is, his theory of what it is to be “in” something. Spinoza’s conatus argument is a valid demonstration from Spinozistic premises about inherence, conception, causation, and related matters. These premises reflect his deep commitment to a rigorous Principle of Sufficient Reason, to a conception of things as causing their own properties through their essences, and to a closely-related conception of causation as identical with or parallel to logical consequence.

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Authors
Garrett, D.
Corresponding author
Garrett, Don
Venue
Spinoza: Metaphysical Themes
Publisher
Oxford University PressNew York
Published
2002-02-14
Pages
127-158
DOI
10.1093/019512815x.003.0008
OpenAlex
W4251451850
Cited by
122
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
42.53
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Seventeenth-Century Political and Philosophical Thought
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Classical Philosophy and Thought
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Medieval Philosophy and Theology
Keywords
Spinoza, conatus, conception, causality, principle of sufficient reason, essence, logical consequence, metaphysics

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Garrett, D. (2002). Spinoza's Conatus Argument. Spinoza: Metaphysical Themes. https://doi.org/10.1093/019512815x.003.0008