The mind affirms the body's existence
Formal Statement
An idea that excludes the existence of our body cannot be in our mind but is contrary to it. The first and chief endeavour of our mind is to affirm the existence of our body. Therefore any idea that negates the body's existence is structurally opposed to the mind's essence.
In Plain Language
Your mind does not merely happen to be aware of your body — it is constitutionally committed to affirming your body's existence. Imagining your own non-existence is, in a precise sense, working against your own mind. This is not just psychology; it is metaphysical architecture. The mind's most fundamental act is saying "yes" to the body's being. Everything we experience emotionally flows from this basic affirmation and its fluctuations.
Why This Follows
From ce-02, the mind's essence is the idea of the body. From ce-10, the mind is conscious of its conatus. Since conatus is the striving to persist (ce-07), and the mind is the idea of the body, the mind's primary striving is to affirm the body's continued existence. Any contrary idea would be self-destructive (ce-05) and is therefore excluded.
The mind's deepest structural commitment is affirming the body's existence.
If the mind is structurally incapable of truly conceiving its body's non-existence, what is happening when we contemplate or fear our own death?