Part 6/10:
According to Spinoza, everything exists as expressions of God's infinite attributes. Just as every cell in the human body contributes to the overall life of the organism, so too does each object in the universe contribute to the interconnectedness of existence. Consequently, consciousness in Spinoza's worldview is an intrinsic aspect of reality rather than an emergent property of complex brains.
The Concept of Conatus
To appreciate Spinoza's panpsychism further, one must explore his idea of "conatus," the inherent drive within every being to persist in existence. This drive manifests differently across entities: for humans, it often means pursuing happiness, while for rocks, it may simply translate to maintaining structural integrity against erosion.