[文学书籍]《伦理学I》.The.Ethics.PART.I.(荷)斯宾诺莎.英

　　THE ETHICS

　　THE ETHICS

　　Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata

　　Benedict de Spinoza

　　Translated by R. H. M. Elwes

　　1

　　THE ETHICS

　　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 as

　　constituting the essence of substance.

　　V. By 'mode' I mean the modifications ("affectiones") of substance,

　　or that which exists in, and is conceived through, something other than

　　itself.

　　VI. By 'God' I mean a being absolutely infinite--that is, a substance

　　consisting in infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and

　　infinite essentiality.

　　>>>>>Explanation--I say absolutely infinite, not infinite after its kind:

　　for, of a thing infinite only after its kind, infinite attributes may be denied;

　　but that which is absolutely infinite, contains in its essence whatever

　　expresses reality, and involves no negation.

　　VII. That thing is call