Genres
Description
2 important works. Spinoza's "A Theologico-Political Treatise" presents an eloquent plea for religious liberty, demonstrating that true religion consists of the practice of simple piety, independent of philosophical speculation. In the unfinished "A Political Treatise," the author develops a theory of government founded on common consent.
Language
Original language
Dutch
Physical description
432 p.; 8.24 inches
Publication
Dover Publications (2004), 432 pages
Pages
432
ISBN
0486437221 / 9780486437224
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LibraryThing member MeisterPfriem
Spinoza: Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, in: The Chief Works of Benedict de Spinoza, Vol. I, George Bell & Sons, London, 2nd Ed. 1891
Translated by R.H.M. Elwes
Much has been written about Spinoza so I will say only a few words:
Spinoza, Dutch of Portuguese Jewish origin, and Vermeer van Delft were
Spinoza writes in Latin, the lingua franca of the educated at that time; he also does not wish to address the masses ‘for I cannot expect that it contains anything to please them. […] I would rather that [the multitude, and those of like passions with the multitude] should utterly neglect it, than that they should misinterpret it after their wont.’ Of no avail: published anonymously in 1670, the Tractatus raised ‘a storm of angry controversy’ (Elwes).
The work falls into 3 parts: In Chapters 1- 13 Spinoza submits the scriptures to a rational analysis accepting no other source but the scriptures themselves for his critique. He goes back to the Hebrew text to avoid mistranslations and points out ambiguities in the wording. He concludes that the text had many authors and was written over many, perhaps hundreds of years, at times resulting in contradictions and errors. In Chapters 16-20 Spinoza discusses various forms of political power in relation to the demands of the scriptures and the duties of all persons towards either and both. In the central and most important section (Chap. 14-15) Spinoza deals with the nature of faith and its relationship to reason: reason seeks truth, faith demands obedience to God’s command to love your neighbour as yourself, two ways to virtue, neither should be subject to the other.
In the rationality of the analysis, though not in his deep religiosity, Spinoza belongs already to the Enlightenment.
Translated by R.H.M. Elwes
Much has been written about Spinoza so I will say only a few words:
Spinoza, Dutch of Portuguese Jewish origin, and Vermeer van Delft were
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exact contemporaries: both born in 1632, they both died young, in their forties, within 2 years of each other.Spinoza writes in Latin, the lingua franca of the educated at that time; he also does not wish to address the masses ‘for I cannot expect that it contains anything to please them. […] I would rather that [the multitude, and those of like passions with the multitude] should utterly neglect it, than that they should misinterpret it after their wont.’ Of no avail: published anonymously in 1670, the Tractatus raised ‘a storm of angry controversy’ (Elwes).
The work falls into 3 parts: In Chapters 1- 13 Spinoza submits the scriptures to a rational analysis accepting no other source but the scriptures themselves for his critique. He goes back to the Hebrew text to avoid mistranslations and points out ambiguities in the wording. He concludes that the text had many authors and was written over many, perhaps hundreds of years, at times resulting in contradictions and errors. In Chapters 16-20 Spinoza discusses various forms of political power in relation to the demands of the scriptures and the duties of all persons towards either and both. In the central and most important section (Chap. 14-15) Spinoza deals with the nature of faith and its relationship to reason: reason seeks truth, faith demands obedience to God’s command to love your neighbour as yourself, two ways to virtue, neither should be subject to the other.
In the rationality of the analysis, though not in his deep religiosity, Spinoza belongs already to the Enlightenment.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mattries37315
A scion of Jewish refugees from the Iberian Peninsula living in the Dutch Golden Age, brought to print one of the most controversial texts of the early modern period. A Theologico-Political Treatise and A Political Treatise by Benedict de Spinoza are one of the most controversial texts of its time
In his Theologico-Political, Spinoza argues what the best roles of state and religion concluding that a bit of democracy, freedom of speech and religion within a state that remains supreme in governance of the populace without the meddling of religious leaders. To bring about his conclusions, Spinoza critiqued the Bible, organized religion, and the meddling of philosophy and Scriptural interpretation. Yet Spinoza spent so much time in his criticism that his quick turn to his conclusions almost seemed like an add on even though this reader loved his conclusion. The unfinished Political Treatise dealt with how a monarchal or aristocratic form of government—his was just beginning his discussion of democracy at his death—could function without devolving into tyranny and not violating the liberty of its citizens. How Spinoza’s ideal governmental forms of monarchy and aristocracy were constituted were intriguing, but the treatise unfinished status leaves a reader a lot of questions without how Spinoza would incorporate his previous ideas in Theologico-Political. Of the two treatises presented, the completed Theologico-Political is of better value yet is appears to harbor Spinoza’s resentment in falling out with the Jewish community of Amsterdam, however his ending argument for the secularization of state governance along with the freedom of speech and religion are highly valuable.
This book is important for those interested in political thought and the role of religion—if any—in government. While Benedict de Spinoza’s own personal issues due come through the text the Theologico-Political Treatise is important in the evolution of thought in freedom of religion.
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and an unfinished—by the author’s death—text that would have expounded upon the author’s political thoughts.In his Theologico-Political, Spinoza argues what the best roles of state and religion concluding that a bit of democracy, freedom of speech and religion within a state that remains supreme in governance of the populace without the meddling of religious leaders. To bring about his conclusions, Spinoza critiqued the Bible, organized religion, and the meddling of philosophy and Scriptural interpretation. Yet Spinoza spent so much time in his criticism that his quick turn to his conclusions almost seemed like an add on even though this reader loved his conclusion. The unfinished Political Treatise dealt with how a monarchal or aristocratic form of government—his was just beginning his discussion of democracy at his death—could function without devolving into tyranny and not violating the liberty of its citizens. How Spinoza’s ideal governmental forms of monarchy and aristocracy were constituted were intriguing, but the treatise unfinished status leaves a reader a lot of questions without how Spinoza would incorporate his previous ideas in Theologico-Political. Of the two treatises presented, the completed Theologico-Political is of better value yet is appears to harbor Spinoza’s resentment in falling out with the Jewish community of Amsterdam, however his ending argument for the secularization of state governance along with the freedom of speech and religion are highly valuable.
This book is important for those interested in political thought and the role of religion—if any—in government. While Benedict de Spinoza’s own personal issues due come through the text the Theologico-Political Treatise is important in the evolution of thought in freedom of religion.
Show Less