Jim Holt (philosopher). (№ 427906)

Of all the possible answers to the mystery of existence, perhaps the most exciting would be the discovery that, in spite of everything, the world is the cause of itself. This version was first proposed by Spinoza, who boldly (albeit somewhat indistinctly) argued that everything that exists consists of a single infinite substance and all separate entities, both physical and mental, are only temporary changes of this substance - like waves on the surface of the ocean. Spinoza called this infinite substance "Deus sive Natura" ("God or Nature"). According to Spinoza, God and nature cannot be separate from each other, because then they mutually restrict each other. Therefore, the world itself is divine: eternal, infinite and is the cause of itself, and therefore, deserves from us respectful and reverent treatment. Such a metaphysical understanding of the world, according to Spinoza, leads to "intellectual love" for it - the highest goal for man and the maximum approach to immortality.