Descartes and Spinoza’s view on God is different from each other because Descartes believes that God is a split substance from infinite and finite, while Spinoza believes there is only one substance, and that is God. Even though, Descartes and Spinoza both agree that God is its own substance, but the main reason is both disagree with each other is because of their idea with substance. Spinoza believes that a substance only exists if it is through itself. Descartes believes that one cannot have two or more substances, but can have infinite number of attributes. A difference between Spinoza and Descartes in the nature of God is infinite and finite substances. Since God is understood as a separate and transcendent infinite substance
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That is because extended matter is divisible, and God cannot be divisible, therefore, divisibility is a destruction of matter, and destruction is imperfect in Descartes’ view. However, according to Spinoza, he stated, “In the universe there cannot be two or more substances of the same nature or attribute.” (RMP, 159) Descartes believes that God is a separate substance from us because God is perfect. There can only be one extended substance, since you cannot have two or more substances with the same attribute because there would not be anything to distinguish them. That is because if we divide the extended substances into different parts, these parts still exist as one …show more content…
Even though both philosophers believe that God is one substance, Descartes’ idea seems to be illogical. In Meditation III, Descartes says, “I understand by the name ‘God’ a certain substance that is infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, and supremely powerful…” (RMP, 38) Descartes imagines the idea of God as an extremely perfect being, thus God must hold all attributes involving perfection, omnipotence, honesty, and existence. I believe it to be illogical because he is assigning attribute of God’s existence before proving that God exist to hold said attribute. If it turns out that God does not exist, then he has misplaced the attribute since only substances can hold attributes. Also, if there is a split in infinite and finite substance, we are contrasting and opposing God to our created world, which is its own independent existence. He is contradicting himself by saying finite substances are not dependent on God’s power for our own existence since the infinite mind and finite mind are separate
That is because extended matter is divisible, and God cannot be divisible, therefore, divisibility is a destruction of matter, and destruction is imperfect in Descartes’ view. However, according to Spinoza, he stated, “In the universe there cannot be two or more substances of the same nature or attribute.” (RMP, 159) Descartes believes that God is a separate substance from us because God is perfect. There can only be one extended substance, since you cannot have two or more substances with the same attribute because there would not be anything to distinguish them. That is because if we divide the extended substances into different parts, these parts still exist as one …show more content…
Even though both philosophers believe that God is one substance, Descartes’ idea seems to be illogical. In Meditation III, Descartes says, “I understand by the name ‘God’ a certain substance that is infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, and supremely powerful…” (RMP, 38) Descartes imagines the idea of God as an extremely perfect being, thus God must hold all attributes involving perfection, omnipotence, honesty, and existence. I believe it to be illogical because he is assigning attribute of God’s existence before proving that God exist to hold said attribute. If it turns out that God does not exist, then he has misplaced the attribute since only substances can hold attributes. Also, if there is a split in infinite and finite substance, we are contrasting and opposing God to our created world, which is its own independent existence. He is contradicting himself by saying finite substances are not dependent on God’s power for our own existence since the infinite mind and finite mind are separate