Spinoza, Principles of Cartesian Philosophy, Proposition 14, Part 2

by Corry Shores
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[The following is quotation; my summary and commentary is in brackets.]

Baruch Spinoza

The Principles of Cartesian Philosophy

and Metaphysical Thoughts followed by

Lodewijk Meyer Inaugural Dissertation on Matter (1660)

Part II

Proposition 14

Each single thing, insofar as it is simple and undivided and is considered only in itself, always perseveres in the same state, as far as in it lies.

Many take this proposition as an axiom, but we shall demonstrate it.

[Simple bodies tend to persist in their present state, whether that be motion or rest. For our current purposes, we will take this as an axiom, and leave for later an elaboration of the proof.]

Proof:

Because every thing is in a certain state only by the concurrence of God (Prop. 12 Part 1) and God is in the highest degree constant in his works (Cor. Prop 20 Part 1), if we pay no attention to any external causes (i.e., particular causes) but consider the thing only in itself, we must affirm as far as in it lies, it always perseveres in the state in which it is. Q.E.D.

(64)

Spinoza, Baruch. The Principles of Cartesian Philosophy and Metaphysical Thoughts followed by Lodewijk Meyer Inaugural Dissertation on Matter (1660). Transl. Samuel Shirley and Steven Barbone. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1998.