The Form of Man: Human Essence in Spinoza's Ethic (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History)

For Lermond, the primary question regarding the human essence is whether or not it is real (an 'ens reale'). Since the term 'essence' in Spinoza can refer either to an abstract shared property (an 'ens rationis') or to "the singular meaning of a unique thing" (an 'ens reale'), Lermond sees three possible alternatives for the reality status of the human essence in Spinoza: (l) the essence of individual human beings is real, but the human essence (as common or universal) is an 'ens rationis' (2) the human essence is real, "a true eternal individual," and individual human beings are "privative expressions" of that essence; (3) both the essences of individuals and the (eternal) human essence are real. Lermond argues for the third alternative, on direct textual and exegetical grounds. Preface ix Introduction 1 The Problem of Human Essence 3 'Natura Naturans' and 'Natura Naturata' 6 Eternity as the Existence of God and the Derivation of Duration 9 'Causa Sui': Divine Causality as Freedom and Determinism 14 Ontological Fullness of Being and the Denial of Final Cause: the Meaning of Perfection 17 The Multiplicity of God and the Multiplicity of Sense 22 Kinds of Knowledge 30 Freedom as Ontic Limit 36 Flux and Strife: the Ethical Implications of the One and the Many 46 That Which is Common 51 Essence and Immortality 58 Conclusion 72 Notes 75 Bibliography 83 Index 87 "LERMOND, THE FORM OF MAN. HUMAN ESSENCE IN SPINOZA'S ""ETHIC"". LEIDEN, 1988, ix 87 p. Encuadernacion original. Nuevo." By Lucia Lermond. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [83]-86.