SPINOZA'S DEFINITION OF SUBSTANCE
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Abstract
This paper is about Spinoza's definition of substance, specifically important for his philosophical system. I will firstly present the methodological meaning and role of substance definition in Spinoza's thought, and then I will analyze all three aspects of the definition; ontological, epistemological, and logical. I will present a specific character of Spinoza's substance definition in comparison to Descartes's definition and medieval philosophical tradition. Spinoza proclaims the idea of substance, which is the basis for the formulation of substance definition, to be the most important among the true ideas because this idea can become the paradigm for true knowledge and proper method in gaining the knowledge. The methodolocial primacy of the idea of substance is reflected in the definition of substance, i.e. in the order of its three aspects, which shows not only what substance is, but also how should we think (about it). Hence, the analysis of the definition of substance proves its methodological significance.
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