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My thesis will attempt to establish a general account of Spinoza's metaphysics in accordance with the relationship he articulates between essence and existence. I will try to argue that essence and existence are related in two complementary but opposing ways for Spinoza. In terms of relation on the one hand and causality on the other. Essence and existence represent two distinct models of reality for Spinoza, so that reality must be understood in two senses, firstly in terms of existential opposition and causal priority, and secondly in terms of essential commonality and causal immanence. The interplay of essence and existence as mutually necessary aspects of being are what underpins Spinoza's conception of monistic substance. Ultimately, I will try to show that this account provides both a useful framework for understanding the relation between various aspects of Spinoza's system, and also offers a compelling definition of reality as Spinoza would have sought to describe it. This reality is at once infinite and exhaustible, and also wholly intelligible and rational. My account will show how these two conditions are met by Spinoza's metaphysical system, and in a way which retains the thoroughgoing monism central to his thought.