Spinoza's Political and Ethical Philosophy #248244

An adequate proof of these statements would involve a detailed analysis and criticism of Spinoza's whole system of thought. But this essay does not profess to do more than contribute to the understanding of a definitely limited part of this problem, viz. The connection between Spinoza's theory of morality and his theory of the State. To bring out the significance of his political treatises, and to show what light they derive from, and cast upon, his ethical teaching is its main end. So far as metaphysical questions are dealt with, they are incidental to the main argument.