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Quote by Baruch Spinoza

“Knowledge of the first kind is the only cause of falsity, whereas knowledge of the second and of the third kind is necessarily true.”

Quote by Baruch Spinoza

Book:Ethics

Work

Ethics

This book delves into the fundamental questions of ethics, examining various theories and perspectives on moral reasoning and behavior. more

Author

Baruch Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza

Baruch Spinoza, a 17th-century Dutch philosopher of Jewish descent, is renowned for his unique philosophical thoughts and critical analysis of religion. Spinoza's philosophy emphasizes the unity of reason, nature, and God, and has had a profound impact on Western philosophy. more

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“Everything that can be put into words lies within the scope of reason. But then again, not everything can be put into words. ### Out of the experience bequeathed in the words of others the recipient refashions and subsumes whatever his or her intellect deems important or inspiring. There is no dogmatic obligation in matters of intellectual education, and no arranged marriage of minds produces healthy offspring. Only sufficient intelligence is required; poor judgment will lead to making the wrong choice.”

“Without the rivers, there would be no oceans. Without the valleys, there would be no mountains, and without summer, there would be no winter. Everything in life happens for a reason, and each element plays a crucial role in the grand scheme of things.”

“The reason why we have a wrong judgement of the things we mentioned earlier is that we do not look deeply into them to see what they are, but conceive a liking for them or a dislike of them from the very first glance, judging by appearances. These likes and dislikes prejudice our mind and darken it; and so it cannot form a right judgement of things as they really are. So, my brother, if you wish to be free of this prelest in your mind, keep strict attention over yourself; and when you see a thing with your eyes, or visualise it in your mind, keep a firm grip on your desires and do not allow yourself at the first glance either to conceive a liking for the thing or a dislike for it, but examine it in a detached way with the mind alone. Unobscured by passion, the mind then remains in a state natural to it, which is free and pure, and has the possibility to know the truth and to penetrate into the depths of a thing, where evil is often concealed under a deceptively attractive exterior and where good is sometimes hidden under a bad appearance.”

“What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. Sure He that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused. Now, whether it be Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple Of thinking too precisely on th'event - A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom And ever three parts coward - I do not know Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do', Sith I have cause, and will, and strength and means To do't.”

“Good apologetics is a blessing to the church and to the world; the early church proved this. A valid apologetic, however, follows faith and does not attempt to argue the truth of revelation in an a priori fashion. Christians need not hide from their opponents in embarrassed silence; the Christian faith is the only worldview that fits the reality of life. Apologetic intellectual labor should not lead to exaggerated expectations nor deny the genuine subjectivity of Christian truth. Relying on reason to convert or ground the faith on intellectual grounds alone will always disappoint.”