Abstract

Spinoza combined a sophisticated metaphysics with a robust social, political and moral theory. I examine Spinoza's philosophy from three different perspectives. First I explain the connection between his metaphysics and his physics, clarifying the sense in which the laws of nature are supposed by Spinoza to be "inscribed" in God's nature. Second, I examine Spinoza's way of reconciling mechanistic determinism with human freedom, and I show how that reconciliation illuminates his doctrine of the eternality of the mind. Finally I delineate the role theology is supposed to play in guiding us toward virtuous behavior, according to Spinoza, and how that role differs from philosophy's. I argue that despite his explicit claims to the contrary Spinoza in fact tries to show in his Theological-Political Treatise that theology is at best a lesser person's substitute for philosophical enlightenment. My conclusion is that Spinoza offers a realistic view of human freedom and social institutions, set in the context of rich and initially compelling metaphysics