Friendship and correspondence with Simon de Vries

The brothers Koerbagh

Friendship with Oldenburg

Correspondence as to publication of his works

The Principles of Descartes' Philosophy published



3
6

7
9

lO

13

15
i6

19

20

22

23

25
26

29



xviii SPINOZA : HIS LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY

The Tract at us Theologico-P oliticus published

Controversy, and prohibition of the book

Invitation to Heidelberg declined

French invasion of 1672 : Sp.'s visit to Conde's quarters

Plan of publishing Ethics abandoned

Leibnitz's visit to Sp..
Death of Sp..
Publication of Opera Posthuma

Sp.'s manner of life



PAGS

30
32
33
35
36

37

39
4.1

42



CHAPTER II

spinoza's correspondence

Letters not strictly philosophical the subject of this chapter

Sp. questioned by Blyenbergh on origin of evil

His reply, and further correspondence

Reason and Scripture .....
Anthropomorphism of theology

Close of the correspondence ....
Letter to Peter Balling on omens

Hugo Boxel on ghosts .....
Sp. on perfections of divine nature

Letter on an alchemical experiment

Reply to Van Velthuysen's criticism on Tractatus Theologico

P oliticus ......
Sp.'s general view of religion ....
Later correspondence with Van Velthuysen as to publication
Correspondence with Leibnitz

With Tschirnhausen ....
Letter from Albert Burgh on his conversion to Church of Rome
Sp.'s answer .......
44

45
46

49

50

54
55
58
61

62

65

68
69

70

75



CHAPTER m

IDEAS AND SOURCES OF SPINOZa's PHILOSOPHY

Part /. — 'Judaism and Neo-Platonism



Philosophy must renounce rinality
Ideas permanent, not systems.
Leading ideas of Sp. : uniformity
Identity of body and mind (monism)



76

79

80

80



CONTENTS



XIX



Self-preserving effort (natural law)

General view of sources of these ideas

Uniformity : the Essay on God and Man

Not Cartesian in metaphysics.
