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This module examines one of the most original, daring, influential, and complex philosophical systems: the philosophy of the 17th century Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677). It begins with an outline of some biographical facts, moving on in particular to the philosophical context which is at the background of Spinoza’s philosophy, mainly Descartes’s metaphysics and ontological analysis. It concentrates attention both on Spinoza’s critique of Descartes’ conception of three substances and on the starting points of Spinoza’s philosophical account of concepts, such as, ‘substance’, ‘God or nature’, ‘matter’, ‘freedom’, and ‘human happiness’, which can, to some extent, be traced back to the Stoics. Spinoza’s main writings from his early tractates to the Ethics will be closely examined.
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