Selection from – Ethics – Part V. On the Power of the Intellect; or of Human Freedom (Page 10)
Spinoza's Words: (from the third kind of knowledge comes the intellectual love of (Deus sive Natura))
Proposition XXXII. Whatsoever we understand by the third kind of knowledge, we take delight in, and our delight is accompanied by the idea of (Deus sive Natura) as cause.
From this kind of knowledge arises the highest possible mental acquiescence, that is pleasure, [also] from the third kind of knowledge necessarily arises the intellectual love of (Deus sive Natura).
Although this love towards (Deus sive Natura) has no beginning, it yet possesses all the perfections of love... The mind possesses as eternal those same perfections and they are accompanied by the idea of (Deus sive Natura) as eternal cause. If pleasure consists in the transition to a greater perfection, assuredly blessedness must consist in the mind being endowed with perfection itself.
Comment:
Spinoza brings new concepts into play here; the intellectual love of (Deus sive Natura), the transition to a greater perfection, blessedness.
We delight in understanding things. Understanding that the world is a necessary result of the perfect Nature of (Deus sive Natura) results in a feelings of pleasure or joy. This is the intellectual love of (Deus sive Natura), which is the highest happiness man can know.
Blessedness is the mind's transition to a greater perfection or the peace of mind that stems from the intuitive knowledge of (Deus sive Natura).