Spinoza does not hold a very optimistic view of the "mass of mankind". However, he also holds, by the above account of superstition, "that it comes to all men naturally." The theme is further developed regarding the superiority of reason in apprehending G-d. Ideas of G-d which rely upon emotion are doomed, in the sense that, since emotions are a source of inconstancy, one's notions of G-d would themselves be liable to the same inconstancy, for they "spring not from reason," reason being the only source of .
constancy.
Nevertheless, I thought it shouldn't be surprising, given the type of philosopher Spinoza was, that he holds the highest confidence in the powers of reason to apprehend G-d's decrees - but what hope does he hold, if any, for the masses in terms of reason being able to act as a positive force in their lives? Or is Spinoza relying upon persuading religious leaders to his point of view in order that they may offer to the mass of mankind a more edifying form of worship or devotion? Or, is he concerned, if all men are prone to superstition, to provide for all men, regardless of endowment, a reasonable path to salvation? .
It seems as if that Spinoza thought good government approximated to that of the free burgesses of Amsterdam, a city in which religious toleration and relative political liberty.
had been realized. He is, therefore, a pioneer of a scientific, in ways humanistic, type of view of government and of the neutrality of the state in matters of belief.
Spinoza believed that God was here on earth. ... Spinoza then argues that two separate substances can't share the same attributes. ... More generally for Spinoza, imagine an infinitely long list of qualities. ... Spinoza argues that these differences in modification are not relevant. ... Spinoza next tries to prove the existence of God. ...
For this reason Spinoza states that "it follows that the human mind is part of the infinite intellect of God (Spinoza, 1992; 70) or put differently, that we are not truly the owners of our thoughts. ... Freedom, according to Spinoza, is the acceptance and recognition of this necessity-meaning god or nature- which is the basis for Spinoza's reasoning here. ... Spinoza states these too are determined by necessity. ... To change them would mean imperfection to Spinoza and he feels that this idea is absurd (Spinoza, 1992; 44). ... Whereas Descartes"" god creates out of want and choice, S...
This is, in theory, the same conclusion found by Spinoza, though different reasoning than taken by Hobbes. Firstly, Spinoza gives a greater weighting to the differences of a man than Hobbes. Instead of Hobbes view that all men are equal and therefore are in competition for the same things, Spinoza instead argues that we are in essence a product of our environment no different from other species, and as in nature ˜fishes are naturally conditioned for swimming, and the greater devour, the less' (Spinoza, 1951) in pursuit of self-preservation, and so too are men conditioned by nature; as ...
Now for Spinoza's metaphysical take on the baseball game scenario. Spinoza's philosophy is based upon Pantheism. "Besides God," says Spinoza, "no other substance can be conceived." ... Here is Spinoza's argument for his Pantheism briefly: 1. ... Spinoza argues that! ...
Spinoza highlighted the tensions of enlightenment. ... Samuel Shirley was inspired to translate Spinoza's works by the belief that Spinoza had, "a vision of truth beyond what is normally granted to human beings."" ... For Spinoza, thought is an attribute of substance. ... It is also not clear that Spinoza ever denies that the soul is immortal. ... Even though Spinoza still wrote about God, he identified God with Nature. ...
He identified very closely with the seventeenth-century Dutch Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza, who rejected the traditional theistic concept of God in favor of an impersonal cosmic order. Spinoza believed that the universe is governed by a mechanical and mathematical order such that all events in nature occur according to immutable laws of cause and effect. ... Einstein also joined with Spinoza in denying the existence of a personal God and an unrestricted determinism. ... Though he denied any sort of personal God, he shared Spinoza's faith in a superior intelligence that reveals itself...
The transformation into the enlightenment in Europe can be seen through the changing views of three philosophers: Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. Bossuet's old-school views of Devine rights and absolutions, to Hobbes's progression in his views that man is by nature a selfish...
