1 For example, he meets the objection that Spinoza does not account for the in-
dividuality of things by saying that when Spinoza is rightly understood this is a specially
strong point in his system. The principium indi'viduationis is identified with life, and is
capable of degrees which depend on the degree of organization attained. "Je mehr
Leben und Wirklichkeit, d. i. je eine verstandigere, machtigere, voUkommnere Energie
ein Wesen zur Erhaltung eines Ganzen hat, das es sich angehorig fiihlt, dem es sich
innig und ganz mittheilet, desto mehr ist es Individuum, Selbst,"



SPINOZA AND MODERN THOUGHT 369

Kant himself was unaffected by the rising influence of Spinoza.
Either he never considered Spinoza seriously, or he came to the
consideration of him too late. What mention there is of Spinoza
in Kant's philosophical writings is but slight and occasional. In
one place he is criticized on the one point of final causes, but not
lucidly or adequately.^ The reader of Kant may indeed find here
and there curious approximations to Spinoza's lines of thought.
