Spinoza Ethics

Baruch Spinoza's greatest work is considered to be his Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order, originally denounced as expressing atheism, but profoundly influential on Continental philosophy. When writing a research paper on Spinoza's Ethics, one will want to focus on the time frame and the era in which it was written in. Not sure how to do this? Let Paper Masters help you by providing a model Spinoza's Ethics research paper for you to use as a sample.

The following are key elements of Ethics:

• Modeled after Euclid's Elements
• Spinoza's Ethics defines key philosophical axioms
• Presents hundreds of corollaries
• Includes criticisms of other philosophers, including Descartes.

Spinoza's Ethics

and God

The first part of Ethics explores the relationship between God and the Universe. Spinoza maintained that God is the natural world, and not apart from it. Every action in life follows from the very nature of God. Part two focuses on the human mind and body, with Spinoza offering critiques of Descartes and Cartesian philosophy. Spinoza also defines knowledge in this section.

In part three, Spinoza argues that all things, including humans, strive for perseverance. It is this striving that underlies all human emotions. Part four, "Of Human Bondage," examines the aspects of the mind that seek out pleasure and avoid pain. Part five, "Of Human Freedom" argues the idea that reason governs and that only with reason can humans distinguish between those passions which are harmful and those that aid virtue. Much of the criticism of Spinoza's Ethics came through his assertion that God is Nature and Nature is God. This is a form of pantheism, which was highly controversial during the 17th century.