July 18

Kay Malte Bischof (U Notre Dame)

Spinoza's Descent to the Many

Abstract: Spinoza defends two theses about God. First, God has every attribute, including the attribute of extension. Second, God is the sole substance. Following Spinoza himself, interpreters have long thought that the first thesis is instrumental for defending the second thesis. However, these theses are actually in deep conflict with each other. I shall argue that Spinoza can hold the attributehood of extension only at the cost of giving up his thesis that God is the sole substance.

Kay Malte Bischof has just received his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

Please navigate to “Downloads” in the upper-right corner of this page for a draft of the pre-circulated paper.

A recording of the session will be made available for some time following the event.

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