A Treatise Partly Theological, and partly Political by Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza
This month’s featured text is A treatise partly theological, and partly political containing some few discourses, to prove that the liberty of philosophizing (that is making use of natural reason) may be allow'd without any prejudice to piety … by Benedictus (Baruch) de Spinoza. Spinoza was born in Amsterdam in 1632 to Jewish parents who had immigrated from Portugal, fleeing the Inquisition. He was educated at the Talmud Torah school and later went to work at his father’s business. During this time, he met Franciscus Van den Eden, an ex-Jesuit, teacher at a local Latin school, a medical doctor, and a notoriously irreligious thinker. In 1656, Spinoza was expelled from the Jewish community in Amsterdam for “abominable heresies” and “monstrous deeds.” He anonymously published Theological-Political Treatise amidst a storm of controversy in 1670 (it was eventually banned throughout Holland). He consistently turned down academic positions (partially because of his Jewish background) and, to supplement his income, went into the lens polishing business. He died from consumption (no doubt aggravated from the glass dust used in polishing lenses) in 1677, leaving many of his manuscripts unpublished. They were shipped to Amsterdam and later published as the Opus Postuma in 1678.

Spinoza is perhaps one of the most important philosophers of the early modern period. He successfully combined elements of many different philosophies including contemporary thinkers like Descartes and Hobbes as well as Maimonides and Gersonides (Medieval Jewish philosophers). He rejected many of the early modern ideas about God (hence the controversy surrounding him) and advocated a pantheistic view of God. Additionally, he believed that freedom, especially freedom of inquiry was essential to the human condition. His work greatly influenced later philosophers of the Enlightenment and helped to lay the groundwork for the rational and scientific philosophies of the eighteenth century.

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