Intuition, Insight, Nature

Spinoza characterizes Intuition as the 'third kind' of Knowledge, but it is possible that there is a fourth, that can be called Insight.  The object of Insight is a briefly considered element of his doctrine, Naturing Nature, i. e. Nature as dynamic and creative.  Thus, the object of Insight is all Nature, both in oneself and everywhere else.  In other words, Insight is a rare, elevated experience.  Now, it is possible that by Intuition, Spinoza means Insight, for, Nature is God in his doctrine.  But too much of his exposition of Intuition seems devoted to matters not relevant to Insight, e. g. whether or not the Mind can survive the death of the Body, and too little to an exposition of Naturing Nature, e. g. the experiencing of oneself as a Mode of Natural creativity. Trying to make the doctrine as palatable as possible to hostile Christian and Judaic forces, i. e. by emphasizing elements that seem amenable to orthodox reading, might, under those hostile conditions, be justifiably prudent.  But three centuries later, the visionary aspects of the doctrine, that have more in common with 19th-century Vitalism than with the neo-Medieval Rationalism of Descartes, Leibniz, and Kant, need to be better developed.  Distinguishing Insight from his Intuition is a step in that direction.