Contents
Baruch Spinoza
Arguing that mind and nature belong to one unified reality.
Theological-Political Treatise · Ethics
- Born
- 24 November 1632
- Birthplace
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Died
- 21 February 1677
More people
Baruch Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher whose work challenged conventional accounts of God, freedom and religious authority.
Early life
Amsterdam community
Grew up in the city’s Portuguese-Jewish community.
Intellectual break
Was expelled from that community in 1656.
Career
- 1650s–1660s
Independent thought
Developed his philosophy outside a university career.
- 1670
Political and religious argument
Published the Theological-Political Treatise anonymously.
- 1677
Ethics published
His major philosophical work appeared after his death.
Selected writings
Theological-Political Treatise
Defended freedom of thought and examined scriptural interpretation.
Ethics
Presented a system concerning nature, mind and human emotion.
Political Treatise
An unfinished work analysed political organisation.
Beyond philosophy
Lens grinding
Supported himself through work with optical lenses.
Independence
Declined a university appointment that might constrain his philosophical freedom.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ↗Photo: anonymous. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
