Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Intuition and Procreation

For Spinoza, in general, Rational Knowledge is of Universal propositions, and Intuitive Knowledge is of Individual entities qua Individual entities. The paradigmatic example of the former is Mathematical propositions, while the significant example of the latter is one's awareness of oneself as a Mode of Substance.  Now, also for Spinoza, Will and Knowledge are identical.  Hence, Rational Knowledge must be Techne, i. e. an exercise of Will determined by a Universal proposition.  Likewise, Intuitive Knowledge can only be one's awareness of oneself as a creator in the act of creating.  Thus, Intuition can occur in what Kant conceives as an act of Genius, which he then subordinates to Reason.  More commonly, it occurs in the creation of a new Mode, i. e. in the act of Procreation.  But, Human Procreation is a collaborative process.  Hence, Spinoza's Intuition can entail the existence of others.

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