Observations placeholder
Descartes, Rene - Functions, Attributes and Spirit
Identifier
014484
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Attributes and functions are evident when anything executes its functions, as such by watching a bird fly, for example, we are seeing function and attribute in motion or being executed. As these are invisible but clealry in operation, we can conclude that we are seeing spirit in action.
Substance = spirit
A description of the experience
Rene Descartes – Key Philosophical Writings
substance cannot be first discovered merely from the fact that it is a thing that exists, for that fact alone is not observed by us. We may, however, easily discover it by means of any one of its attributes because it is a common notion that nothing is possessed of no attributes, properties or qualities. For this reason, when we perceive any attribute, we therefore conclude that some existing thing or substance to which it may be attributed is necessarily present..
but although any one attribute is sufficient to give us a knowledge of substance, there is always one principal property of substance which constitutes its nature and essence and on which all others depend.