Spinoza categorically refuted Descartes’ theory that consciousness originated in the pineal gland but other than Spinoza’s grounding in Aristotelian philosophy he refused a definitive supposition of his own, except to rely on the thought > extension mutation of substance somewhat analogous to Einsteinian energy > matter.

Spinoza did argue that all things have some level of ‘consciousness’ in that all things derive from substance. ‘Substance’ [literally ‘standing below’ all things] being ‘nature,’ as an actual thing.

Einstein had great respect for Spinoza, which is why I do too. Lately I wonder if ‘substance’ may be ‘dark energy’ or ‘zero-point’ energy. I wonder if the metaphysics of a conscious universe might not be so implausible after all, albeit a ‘consciousness’ which we may never fully comprehend, let alone our own.