Chain: Foundation of Reality

Purpose: Establishes Nature as the sole, necessary, infinite substance from which all things follow.

The Chain

1. Part I Definition 6 - Nature defined as absolutely infinite substance
2. Part I Proposition 7 - Existence belongs to substance’s nature
3. Part I Proposition 11 - Nature necessarily exists ⭐
4. Part I Proposition 14 - Only Nature exists as substance ⭐
5. Part I Proposition 15 - Whatever is, is in Nature ⭐
6. Part I Proposition 16 - Infinite things follow from Nature
7. Part I Proposition 29 - All things determined by necessity ⭐

Summary

Nature is infinite substance that necessarily exists (can’t not exist). Since substance can’t be produced by another substance, and substance with all attributes must exist, there can be only one substance: Nature. Everything else exists in Nature as modes (modifications). From Nature’s essence, infinitely many things follow in infinitely many ways, all determined by necessity. There is no contingency.

Significance

• Establishes monism: one substance only
• Grounds determinism: no contingency
• Shows immanence: Nature not separate from world
• Provides foundation for all subsequent arguments

Leads To

• Chain - Mind-Body Relation - Mind and body as modes
• Chain - Path to Freedom - Understanding necessity