Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence.

Spinoza was one of the towering philosophers of the 17th century, described by Bertrand Russell as "the noblest and most lovable of all the great philosophers". His work investigates some of the deepest questions of philosophy. He made significant contributions to understanding the human mind, the emotions, moral philosophy and politics.

In this introductory course, we will focus on Spinoza’s ideas and cover all of his major works. The central text for discussion is Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order, written by Spinoza in 1664. We will also discuss his relationship to the Jewish Sephardic community in Amsterdam where he lived, which is pertinent to his political philosophy. The course will conclude with an assessment of Spinoza’s ideas for the now.

Aims

This course aims to:

• provide an overview of the origins and complexities of the many theories developed by Spinoza
• make the connection between Spinoza’s personal history and the development of his ideas on ethics and politics
• demonstrate the important role played by Spinoza in our understanding of human nature and the human mind
• demonstrate the substantial contribution which Spinoza made to later philosophy
• provide an understanding of the complex structure of the internal workings of the emotions.

Outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• discuss the main events of Spinoza’s life and times
• identify the important concepts in his philosophy
• rel