Baruch Spinoza

Benedictus de Spinoza (November 24, 1632 – February 21, 1677), was named Baruch Spinoza by his synagogue elders and known as Bento de Spinoza or Bento d'Espiñoza in his native Amsterdam. Along with René Descartes and Gottfried Leibniz, he was one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy. He is considered the founder of modern Biblical criticism. His magnum opus was the Ethics.

Modern relevance

Albert Einstein said that Spinoza was the philosopher who had most influenced his worldview (weltanschauung). Spinoza equated God with Nature, and Einstein, too, believed in an impersonal deity. His desire to understand Nature through physics can be seen as contemplation of God. Arne Næss, the father of the deep ecology movement, acknowledged drawing much inspiration from the works of Spinoza.

Related Topics:
Albert Einstein - Weltanschauung - Arne Næss - Deep ecology

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In the late twentieth century, there was a great increase in philosophical interest in Spinoza in Europe, particularly from a left-wing or Marxist perspective. Notable philosophers Gilles Deleuze, Antonio Negri and Étienne Balibar have each written books on Spinoza. Stuart Hampshire wrote a major English language study of Spinoza, though H H Joachim's work is equally valuable.

Related Topics:
Philosophical - Europe - Left-wing - Marxist - Gilles Deleuze - Antonio Negri - Étienne Balibar - Stuart Hampshire

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Spinoza's portrait featured prominently on the older series of the 1000 Guilder banknote, which was legal tender in the Netherlands until the euro was introduced in 2002.

Related Topics:
Guilder - Banknote - Legal tender - Netherlands - Euro - 2002

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The highest and most prestigious scientific prize of the Netherlands is named the Spinozapremie (Spinoza reward).

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