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    Spinoza's Ethics demonstrates that 'substance' can be def... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Atomism follows from the definition of substance on strictly a priori grounds.

    Spinoza's Ethics demonstrates that 'substance' can be defined as that which is in itself and conceived through itself, entailing exactly one infinite substance.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.A being that depends on something external for its existence or intelligibility is by definition not substance, making independence logically necessary.
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    • 2.If two infinite substances existed, each would limit the other, contradicting infinitude. Therefore, only one infinite substance is logically possible.
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    • 3.Spinoza's definition avoids medieval theological problems by grounding reality in a single self-explanatory principle rather than contingent beings.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.The inference from 'logically conceivable in itself' to 'only one such being exists' commits a modal fallacy—possibility doesn't entail uniqueness.
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    • 2.Attributes like thought and extension appear to have independent conceptual status in Spinoza's system, suggesting multiple fundamental principles, not one.
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    • 3.Defining substance circularly (in itself, through itself) begs the question rather than proving monism follows necessarily from these criteria.
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    Related

    A being that depends on something external for its existence or intelligibility ...Atomism follows from the definition of substance on strictly a priori grounds.Attributes like thought and extension appear to have independent conceptual stat...Defining substance circularly (in itself, through itself) begs the question rath...
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    If two infinite substances existed, each would limit the other, contradicting in...Spinoza's definition avoids medieval theological problems by grounding reality i...The inference from 'logically conceivable in itself' to 'only one such being exi...

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