Single Idea 4819

[catalogued under 2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 2. Sufficient Reason]

Full Idea

There is necessarily for each existent thing a cause why it should exist.

Gist of Idea

There is necessarily for each existent thing a cause why it should exist

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], I Pr 08 n2)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.50


A Reaction

The obvious response is 'how do you know that?' It has to the sort of a priori commitment we expect from a rationalist philosopher. It seems to me quite an appealing candidate for an axiom of human understanding.