
A Theologico-Political Treatise
'A Theologico-Political Treatise' Summary
In the treatise, Spinoza put forth his most systematic critique of Judaism, and all organized religion in general. Spinoza argued that theology and philosophy must be kept separate, particularly in the reading of scripture. Whereas the goal of theology is obedience, philosophy aims at understanding rational truth. Scripture does not teach philosophy and thus cannot be made to conform with it, otherwise the meaning of scripture will be distorted. Conversely, if reason is made subservient to scripture, then, Spinoza argues, "the prejudices of a common people of long ago... will gain a hold on his understanding and darken it."
Spinoza argued that purportedly supernatural occurrences, namely prophecy and miracles, have in fact natural explanations. He argued that God acts solely by the laws of his own nature and rejected the view that God acts for a particular purpose or telos. For Spinoza, those who believe that God acts for some end are delusional and projecting their hopes and fears onto the workings of nature.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
PortugesePublished In
Authors

Benedict de Spinoza
Dutch Republic
Baruch (de) Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese Sephardi origin. One of the early thinkers of the Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism, including modern conceptions of the self and th...
Books by Benedict de SpinozaDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 11 by Various
This volume, part of a multi-volume set, focuses on a selection of literary works from the period between the writers Dana and Dickens. It features a...

On Generation and Corruption by Aristotle
On Generation and Corruption also known as On Coming to Be and Passing Away is a treatise by Aristotle. Like many of his texts, it is both scientific...

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin
Considered to be one of the books that changed the world and how we view ourselves, On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin was met with incredulou...

Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes
Meditations on First Philosophy, in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated is a philosophical treatise by René De...

Modern Magic by Maximilian Schele De Vere
One of his last works, being first published in 1873, "Modern Magic" instead focuses on the occult. From the preface: "The main purpose of our existe...

Prior Analytics by Aristotle
The Prior Analytics is a work by Aristotle on deductive reasoning, known as his syllogistic, composed around 350 BCE. Being one of the six extant Aris...

Starved Rock: A Historical Sketch by Eaton G. Osman
This book is an early history of the Starved Rock Area in Northern Illinois. In the pre-Columbian era, the Starved Rock area was home to Native Americ...

The New Organon by Francis Bacon
The Novum Organum is a philosophical work by Francis Bacon published in 1620. The title translates as "new instrument". This is a reference to Aristot...

Against Celsus Book 4 by Origen of Alexandria
Against Celsus, preserved entirely in Greek, is a major apologetics work by the Church Father Origen of Alexandria, written in around 248 AD, counteri...
Reviews for A Theologico-Political Treatise
No reviews posted or approved, yet...