Blessed thorns : a meditation on Spinoza's God

Despite having been published over three hundred years ago, Spinoza's Ethics is a text that is still, even today, widely misunderstood. Two of the more common and persistent misunderstandings revolve around the accusations of some who have labeled his philosophy both atheistic and materialistic. These two misunderstandings date back to the first time the Ethics was published, immediately following Spinoza's death. In an attempt to not only address these accusations, but as well to clear up any misunderstandings surrounding them, this thesis will be split into four chapters that are divided into two main parts. The first half will deal with the question of whether or not Spinoza is an atheist. The second half will deal with the question of whether or not Spinoza is a materialist. In so doing this thesis will establish and defend the position that it is a misreading to characterize Spinoza's philosophy as atheistic and materialistic.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Humanities

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Philosophy

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Balasak, John Scott Theisen

• Philosophical theology.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/2937

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/2937