Part Three: On the Origin and Nature of the Emotions Summary and Analysis

Part Three covers the human emotions which are part of the mind. This is why Part Three follows on the heels of Part Two. Spinoza begins Part Three by defending his geometrical method as applied to the emotions, as they may not seem amenable to such an analysis. Then he draws the crucial distinction between 'action' and 'passion.' When one is active, she does those things that can only be grasped through her nature, whereas to be passive is to act in concert with other causes. Adequate ideas allow our minds to act on their own, whereas minds must be passive in the fact of inadequate ideas. The idea of an 'emotion' is next explained; emotions are increases or decreases in the...