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Spinoza's Methodology: a Genetic Account of Fundamental Concepts in His Early Writings

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Spinoza's Methodology: a Genetic Account of Fundamental Concepts in His Early Writings University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Philosophy Philosophy 2021 Spinoza's Methodology: A Genetic Account of Fundamental Concepts in His Early Writings Clay Graham University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6479-8945 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.186 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Graham, Clay, "Spinoza's Methodology: A Genetic Account of Fundamental Concepts in His Early Writings" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Philosophy. 30. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/philosophy_etds/30 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Philosophy at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Philosophy by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Clay Graham, Student Dr. Brandon Look, Major Professor Dr. Tim Sundell, Director of Graduate Studies SPINOZA'S METHODOLOGY: A GENETIC ACCOUNT OF FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN HIS EARLY WRITINGS DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Clay Graham Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Brandon Look, Professor of Philosophy Lexington, Kentucky 2021 Copyright © Clay Graham 2021 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6479-8945 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION SPINOZA'S METHODOLOGY: A GENETIC ACCOUNT OF FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN HIS EARLY WRITINGS Spinoza’s magnum opus, the Ethics, is written in a very peculiar, “geometrical” style, one that builds metaphysical and ethical doctrines out of mathematical, deductive proofs. These proofs rely on a series of definitions, axioms, propositions, and demonstrations. Nowhere in the Ethics does Spinoza explain his fundamental definitions and axioms, nor does he proffer a defense of his manner of presentation. I claim that by a thorough and systematic investigation of his earliest writings we can peel back the mystery of this geometrical garb and grasp why Spinoza presents his philosophy with formal, mathematical structure. I argue for the view that his methodology is more extensive and diverse than the geometrical presentation of the Ethics with which he is most closely associated. This essay pays special attention to Spinoza's earliest unpublished works with particular emphasis paid to Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect. Therein, Spinoza provides his only extant attempt at explicitly and systematically developing his method. By focusing on the genetic development of key epistemological concepts in this text, the origins of Spinoza's system comes into stark relief. I argue that the Treatise can function like a prolegomena for the Ethics. Though there are important doctrinal disagreements between the texts, the Treatise, when conceived as a proper propaedeutic to the Ethics, can make the experience of the latter more powerful and comprehensible, filling in gaps in meaning left open by the geometrical presentation. One route for accomplishing this task requires a sustained conceptual analysis of scientia intuitiva, Spinoza's term for intuitive knowledge, the greatest form of knowledge in his epistemology. I offer a developmental account of intuitive knowledge and explore a unique interpretation of its nature that elucidates and organizes the creative momentum of Spinoza's method from the Treatise on the Emendation to the Ethics and beyond. KEYWORDS: Spinoza, Early Modern Philosophy, Epistemology, Method, Intuition, Ethics Clay Graham 04/06/2021 SPINOZA'S METHODOLOGY: A GENETIC ACCOUNT OF FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN HIS EARLY WRITINGS By Clay Graham Dr. Brandon Look Director of Dissertation Dr. Tim Sundell Director of Graduate Studies 04/06/2021 For Janie ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Around the time this dissertation project was originally conceived, and for entirely unrelated reasons, my personal life entered a sustained period of turmoil and chaos. Without the love, friendship, and support of my family, I would be lost. To my partner Carrie Reed and great friend Bradford Ray, thank you for having confidence in me when I had none in myself and for being there in every difficult moment. To my parents and my sister, thank you for your lifelong support and love. For my beautiful son, Ellis, thank you for being reason enough. I would like to acknowledge my director, Dr. Brandon Look, for directly making this project possible. Thank you for your time, flexibility, feedback, and support. It is not lost on me that it is no little request to ask a department chair to direct a dissertation project (with a student with whom he previously had little rapport) amidst a global pandemic. I extend this thank you to the rest of my committee, as well. Thank you Dr. Arnold Farr, Dr. Stefan Bird-Pollan, Dr. Jeffrey Peters, and Dr. Benjamin Karp for the time you have dedicated from your busy lives to reviewing my work. My time at the University of Kentucky would have born little fruit had not been for a great many good people. Thank you, Dr. Daniel Breazeale, for exemplifying high standards. Thank you, Dr. Bob Sandmeyer, for your friendship and guidance. My warm regards and thanks to D Cole, Shelly Johnson, David Scott, Luke Wadhams, Caroline iii Buchanan Bruntz, Drew Van't Land, Peter Antich, and a great many other students and professors, too numerous to name, but all who have left a meaningful impression. I also would like to make a special acknowledgement for the members of my cohort, Lila Wakeman, Suraj Chaudhary, Pedro Della Rosa Matheus, and Colin Smith. I count myself lucky to know you all. The music, travel, food, laughter, and conversation we shared has added so much color to my life. You are all remarkable individuals, and I certain I would not have made it through graduate school with any other group of people. Wherever we end up, I look forward to lifelong friendship. I would also be remiss if I neglected the wonderful people at Western Kentucky University, again, too numerous to name, who nurtured my passion for philosophy. Thank you Dr. Adrian Switzer, Dr. Audrey Anton, and Dr. Michael J. Seidler for your boundless support, generosity, expertise, and model. Thank you, Shouta Brown, for sacrificing health and sanity with me as we discussed philosophy all night long until we reached literal and figurative daybreak. Your friendship in philosophy, and life, has been invaluable, as has that of so many close friends from those formative years. Finally, I want to thank Kenny and Janie Reed, two remarkable souls I grew to love only to lose shortly thereafter. It was a great privilege to have known you both. In loving memory to you, Janie, I dedicate this essay. It is impossible to comprehend the infinite set of circumstances that must befall two people to ever bring them to meet. When I think of all the incredible people it has iv been my honor to love and from which to learn, I am dumbstruck by my own good fortune. In this way, if no other, I have led a blessed life. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ vi NOTE ON CITATION AND ABBREVIATION ......................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 THE ABSOLUTE VIRTUE OF THE MIND: SPINOZA’S INTELLECTUALIST ETHICS ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 SCIENTIA & THE GEOMETRICAL
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