title: Spinoza's Metaphysics: Substance and Thought
author:  Yitzhak Y. Melamed 
description: <br />"<em>Spinoza's Metaphysics</em> will stimulate and inform discussion of Spinoza for years to come." --<em>Journal of the History of Philosophy</em> <br />
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  # The Ethics
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Benedict de Spinoza
  
  
  ##### Translated from the Latin by R.H.M. Elwes
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  ## PART I: CONCERNING GOD
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### DEFINITIONS
  
  
  
  
  
  I. BY THAT which is SELF-CAUSED, I mean that of which the essence involves
  existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  II. A thing is called FINITE AFTER ITS KIND, when it can be limited by another
  thing of the same nature; for instance, a body is called finite because we
  always conceive another greater body. So, also, a thought is limited by
  another thought, but a body is not limited by thought, nor a thought by body.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  III. BY SUBSTANCE, I mean that which is in itself, and is conceived through
  itself; in other words, that of which a conception can be formed independently
  of any other conception.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  IV. BY ATTRIBUTE, I mean that which the intellect perceives