The relationship between modern philosophy and physics is discussed. It is
shown that the latter develops some need for a modernized metaphysics which
shows up as an ultima philosophia of considerable heuristic value, rather than
as the prima philosophia in the Aristotelian sense as it had been intended, in
the first place. It is shown then, that it is the philosophy of Spinoza in
fact, that can still serve as a paradigm for such an approach. In particular,
Spinoza's concept of infinite substance is compared with the philosophical
implications of the foundational aspects of modern physical theory. Various
connotations of sub-stance are discussed within pre-geometric theories,
especially with a view to the role of spin networks within quantum gravity. It
is found to be useful to intro-duce a separation into physics then, so as to
differ between foundational and empirical theories, respectively. This leads to
a straightforward connection bet-ween foundational theories and speculative
philosophy on the one hand, and between empirical theories and sceptical
philosophy on the other. This might help in the end, to clarify some recent
problems, such as the absence of time and causality at a fundamental level. It
is implied that recent results relating to topos theory might open the way
towards eventually deriving logic from physics, and also towards a possible
transition from logic to hermeneutic.Comment: 42 page
