Comparative Study of Consciousness in Baruch Spinoza and Shankaracharya
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This research article aims to compare the metaphysical meanings and characteristics of consciousness in the philosophies of Baruch Spinoza and Sankaracarya through qualitative research methods, utilizing textual analysis and related studies.The study finds that consciousness, according to Spinoza, is the mind or the God’s ideas, which constitutes the attribute of thought of God or substance. All ideas exist within the thought of God and are correlated through a causal chain system known as the “ideas of idea.” Spinoza’s concept of consciousness can be categorized into three levels: divine consciousness, individual consciousness, and particular consciousness. This means that all entities possess consciousness, which exists according to the principle of causal necessity. In contrast, Sankaracarya’s concept of consciousness refers to the ultimate reality that transcends causality, space, and time and is unchange. Consciousness in Sankaracarya’s philosophy is divided into three levels: Brahman, Atman, and Jiva. These three levels are fundamentally one and exist in everything. This research article concludes that the meanings and characteristics of consciousness in the metaphysical perspectives of Spinoza and Sankaracarya differ. Spinoza defines consciousness as mode expressed through the attribute of thought of substance or God, while Sankaracarya asserts that consciousness is the ultimate reality and the essence of all existence. Nonetheless, both philosophers regard consciousness as possessing characteristics that pervade all existence—Spinoza reasoned that this is because all things are in God, and Sankaracarya reasoned that this is because Brahman is in all things. Thus, consciousness pervades all existence.
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