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Heresy

Spinoza: Cursed be he by day; and cursed be he by night

Three hundred and fifty years ago, Spinoza was excommunicated. This affords Peter Cave the excuse to remind us of this most tolerant philosopher – of his life, metaphysics and humanity.

Spinoza’s name does not trip off the lips of many people, and those from whose lips it trips typically know only that he was a pantheist, identifying God with Nature. His life, character and thinking were interwoven; so, let us pick and mix Spinozist episodes, tales and arguments to give a flavour of his philosophy.

1. BLESSED

Baruch, Bento, Benedict and Benedictus – which is Spinoza? All of them. The names mean ‘blessed person’.

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