
English: 
Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, 17th century.
Spinoza
Benedito de Espinoza was born on 24 November 1632 in Amsterdam in the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.
His parents were Sephardic Jews. They were from the Iberian peninsula.
His father, Miguel de Espinoza, was a merchant.
His mother, Ana Débora, died when Spinoza was only six years old.
Most of the Jewish community of Amsterdam was made up of Marranos.
Marranos were Jews from the Iberian peninsula
who had converted to Christianism but were still practising Judaism.
His name means "blessed".

French: 
République des sept Provinces--Unies des Pays-Bas, XVIIème siècle
Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza naît le 24 novembre 1632 à Amsterdam aux Provinces Unies.
Ses parents sont des juifs séfarades d'origine ibérique.
Son père, Miguel de Espinoza est un commerçant.
Sa mère, Ana Débora décède alors que Baruch n'a que six ans.
La communauté juive d'Amsterdam compte alors une majorité d'ex-marranes.
Les marranes sont des juifs de la péninsule ibérique
qui ont pratiqué extérieurement le catholicisme tout en continuant à pratique le judaïsme en secret.
Son nom signifie "béni".

English: 
Spinoza had a traditional Jewish upbringing, attending the Keter Torah yeshiva.
Spinoza had a traditional Jewish upbringing, attending the Keter Torah yeshiva.
However, he didn't become a Hakham.
Van den Enden, former Jesuit, was a writer, poet, art  merchant, doctor, and philosopher.
He's particularly famous for having been Spinoza's teacher.
But he also took part to a conspiracy against Louis 14th the King of France.
"The State must benefit everybody in an equal manner.
The State must improve the well-being of the people, whatever their capacities, gender possessions, and social status."
Van den Enden was promoting the Education for All, so that the elite wouldn't be the only one with access to education.
He was a pioneer of democracy.
"It is best to teach virtue than to condemn vices."
Spinoza attended Franciscus van den Enden's Latin school.

French: 
Spinoza reçoit une solide formation juive à l'école 'Etz-Haïm
puis à la Yeshiva Keter Torah.
Toutefois il ne devient pas Hakham.
Van den Enden, ancien jésuite, est écrivain, poète, marchand d'art, médecin et philosophe.
Il est surtout connu de nos jours pour avoir été le professeur de Spinoza.
Mais il a aussi pris part à un complot contre le roi de France Louis XiV.
"L' Etat doit bénéficier à tous de façon égalitaire.
L' Etat doit améliorer le bien-être des personnes, quels que soient leurs capacités, genre, possessions et statut social."
Van den Enden prône l'éducation pour tous, afin de ne pas laisser le savoir aux seules élites.
C'est un des pionniers de la pensée démocratique.
"Il vaut mieux enseigner les vertus que condamner les vices."
Spinoza fréquente l'école latine de Franciscus van den Enden.

French: 
Il y découvre non seulement les oeuvres de l'Antiquité,
mais aussi celles des plus grands penseurs du XVIème et XVIIème siècles.
Jean Colerus raconte que Spinoza voulait épouser la fille unique de Van den Enden, Clara Maria.
Toutefois les recherches historiques semblent démentir la possibilité d'une romance.
"Je pense donc je suis."
Spinoza s'intéresse particulièrement à la philosophie de René Descartes.
"Pour examiner la vérité il est besoin, une fois dans sa vie de mettre toutes choses en doute autant qu'il se peut."
Descartes est le fondateur de la philosophie rationaliste.
Il s'appuie sur une méthode fondée sur la raison pour atteindre la vérité.
Son doute est méthodique, et lui permet d'atteindre le vrai.

English: 
He discovered not only the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, but also that of the greatest thinkers of the 16th and 17th centuries.
He discovered not only the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, but also that of the greatest thinkers of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Johannes Colerus, in his biography of Spinoza, claimed that the latter wanted to marry the daughter and only child of Van den Enden - Clara Maria.
However, after investigation about the age difference, location, and personal timelines, a romance seemed very unlikely.
"I think therefore I am."
Spinoza was particularly interested in René Descartes" philosophy.
"In order to examine the truth, it is necessary, at least once in your life, to doubt of everything as much as you can."
Descartes is the founder of continental rationalism.
His method seeks the truth through the use of reason.
His doubt is methodical, and allows him to reach the truth.

English: 
"Living without philosophizing really is similar to having closed eyes and never try to open them."
Spinoza is inspired by the geometrical style of his Meditations.
After the death of his father, he helped with the family business but soon gave the full responsibility to his brother.
On 27 July 1656, the Talmud Torah congregation of Amsterdam issued a writ of cherem against Spinoza.
On 27 July 1656, the Talmud Torah congregation of Amsterdam issued a writ of cherem against Spinoza.
He was banned from the Jewish community.
His friend, Juan de Prado, who claimed that all souls die when bodies die, was also excluded from the Jewish community.
His friend, Juan de Prado, who claimed that all souls die when bodies die, was also excluded from the Jewish community.
After the Cherem, Spinoza didn't seek forgiveness from the rabbis.

French: 
"C'est proprement avoir les yeux fermés, sans tâcher de les ouvrir, que de vivre sans philosopher."
Spinoza est inspiré par le style géométrique de ses Méditations.
Au décès de son père, Spinoza et son frère reprennent l'entreprise familiale.
Le 27 juillet 1656, Spinoza est convoqué devant le Conseil des Sages
qui prononce à son encontre le Herem. Il n'a que 24 ans.
Il est exclu de la communauté juive.
Son ami Juan de Prado, qui affirme que les âmes meurent avec les corps,
est lui aussi excommunié et exclu de la communauté juive.
Après le Herem, Spinoza ne tente pas de se faire pardonner des rabbins.

French: 
Il est critiqué, tourné en ridicule, attaqué en raison de son athéisme.
Même le clergé calviniste s'insurge contre sa libre-pensée.
"Ne pas railler, ne pas déplorer, ne pas maudire, mais comprendre."
Cette même année 1656, un fanatique tente de le poignarder.
Spinoza, fin de ne jamais oublier de quoi le fanatisme religieux est capable,
conserve son manteau déchiré par la lame qui a failli le tuer.
Il choisit alors comme devise, "Caute"
que l'on peut traduire par "Prudence", ou encore "Vigilance".
"La sagesse n'est pas la méditation de la mort,
mais la méditation de la vie."
Court traité sur Dieu, l'homme et la béatitude
Spinoza écrit alors son Court traité sur Dieu, l'homme et la béatitude.
Mais il ne le publie pas de son vivant.
Ce traité est une ébauche de l'éthique.

English: 
Spinoza was criticized, ridiculed, attacked because of his "atheism".
Even the calvinist clergy was against his freethinking.
"Don't mock, don't deplore, don't curse, but understand."
This very year 1656 an fanatic tried to stab him.
Spinoza, in order to never forget what religious fanaticism can lead to, decided to keep the coat he was wearing when he was attacked.
Spinoza, in order to never forget what religious fanaticism can lead to, decided to keep the coat he was wearing when he was attacked.
He then chose his motto, "Caute", which can be translated as "be cautious".
He then chose his motto, "Caute", which can be translated as "be cautious".
"Wisdom is not a meditation about death but a meditation about life."
"Wisdom is not a meditation about death but a meditation about life."
Short Treatise on God, Man and His Well-Being
Spinoza then wrote his Short Treatise on God, Man and His Well-Being but he didn't publish it in his lifetime.
Spinoza then wrote his Short Treatise on God, Man and His Well-Being but he didn't publish it in his lifetime.
This treatise lays out ideas similar to the Ethics.

French: 
Il s'en différencie toutefois, on y retrouve notamment beaucoup d'analogies avec Giordano Bruno.
Giordano Bruno, ancien frère dominicain, philosophe, poète et astronome italien de la seconde moitié du XVème siècle,
soutenait et dépassait les thèses coperniciennes en affirmant:
"L'univers est infini, peuplé d'une multiplicité de mondes analogues au nôtre."
Son livre De gl'heroici furori prenait position contre l'idée de centre du monde et de présence de Dieu.
Condamné par l'inquisition, il a péri brûlé vif sur le bûcher.
Après son excommunication, Spinoza ne peut plus s'occuper de l'entreprise familiale.
Il change alors d'activité.
Spinoza gagne sa vie en taillant des lentilles optiques pour lunettes et microscopes.
Son travail est apprécié des plus grands scientifiques de l'époque.
Christian Huygens ne tarit pas d'éloges sur la qualité de ses lentilles.

English: 
It is however different. One can find numerous analogies with Giordano Bruno.
Giordano Bruno was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, mathematician, poet, and cosmological theorist from the 17th century.
He is known for his theories, which conceptually extended the  Copernican model.
"The Universe is infinite and full of world similar to ours."
His book De gli heroici furori (The Heroic Frenzies, 1585) was challenging the idea of the presence of God.
He was imprisoned by the Roman Inquisition and later burned at the stake.
After the Cherem, Spinoza didn't take part to the business activities of his family.
After the Cherem, Spinoza didn't take part to the business activities of his family.
He started grinding lenses for telescopes and microscopes.
His work was very appreciated by the greatest scientists of his time.
Christian Huygens wouldn't stop praising the quality of his lenses.

English: 
Christian Huygens was a famous Dutch scientist. His work included telescopic studies of the rings of Saturn and the discovery of its moon Titan,
Christian Huygens was a famous Dutch scientist. His work included telescopic studies of the rings of Saturn and the discovery of its moon Titan,
Rijnsburg
In 1660 or 1661, Spinoza moved from Amsterdam to Rijnsburg.
He didn't stay long (but you can go there and visit the house where he was living, it's great :) )
Voorburg
In 1663, Spinoza moved to Voorburg.
He dedicated his efforts to publishing the philosophy lessons that he had been giving to a student from Leiden.
This was the only book published under his name.
The Principles of Cartesian Philosophy
In the preface of the book, the reader was warned that Spinoza would be relating Descarte's philosophical conclusions and not his own thoughts.
Spinoza refused to be called a Cartesian.

French: 
Christian Huygens est un scientifique néerlandais célèbre, entre autres,
pour avoir découvert Titan, la lune de Saturne, et étudié ses anneaux.
Rijnsburg
Vers 1660 ou 1661, Spinoza quitte Amsterdam pour s'installer à Rijnsburg.
Il n'y séjourne que très brièvement.
Voorburg.
En 1663, Spinoza s'installe à Voorburg.
Il prépare la publication des cours de philosophie qu'il a donné à un étudiant à Leiden.
Ce sera le seul livre publié sous son nom.
Les principes de la philosophie de Descartes.
Dans la préface de l'ouvrage, le lecteur est averti que Spinoza présente les conclusions philosophiques de Descartes et non les siennes.
Spinoza refuse de se voir cataloguer comme cartésien.

English: 
However, Spinoza truly admired how Descartes was using geometry in his writing.
He decided to apply this geometrical method to his own thoughts and started writing the first drafts of the Ethics.
He decided to apply this geometrical method to his own thoughts and started writing the first drafts of the Ethics.
The Hague.
In 1670, Spinoza settled in The Hague.
This would be his last residence.
In 1670, Spinoza published the Theologico-Political Treatise
He tried to hide that he was the author of that treatise. However the free-thinker was still deemed to be the author of that book.
He tried to hide that he was the author of that treatise. However the free-thinker was still deemed to be the author of that book.
The Theologico-Political Treatise was extremely criticized and disapproved.
"The freedom of philosophizing threatens neither true faith, nor peace within the public community.
Its abolition would lead to the ruin of peace and of all faiths."

French: 
Toutefois, Spinoza admire l'utilisation que Descartes fait de la géométrie en philosophie.
Il décide d'appliquer cette méthode géométrique à sa pensée
et rédige les premières ébauches de l'Ethique.
La Haye.
En 1670, Spinoza s'installe à La Haye.
Cela sera son dernier lieu de résidence.
En 1670, Spinoza publié le Traité théologie-politique.
Il cache qu'il en est l'auteur, mais les lecteurs ne sont pas dupes,
et le libre-penseur se voit attribuer l'ouvrage.
Le Traité théologie-politique est violemment critiqué et condamné.
"La liberté de philosopher ne menace aucune ferveur véritable ni la paix au sein de la communauté publique.
Sa suppression, bien au contraire, entraînerait la ruine et de la paix et de toute ferveur"

English: 
Spinoza shows that the freedom of philosophizing far from being a threat (like most claim)
Spinoza shows that the freedom of philosophizing far from being a threat (like most claim)
is a way of improving the stability and safety of society.
After the treatise was published, Spinoza became a celebrity acknowledged by the greatest intellectuals of his time.
After the treatise was published, Spinoza became a celebrity acknowledged by the greatest intellectuals of his time.
Jan de Witt and his brother were massacred at The Hague on 20 August 1672.
Jan de Witt, the Grand Pensionary of the Netherlands, negotiated peace with Cromwell's England, which was detrimental to he Stadholder, the Prince of Orange.
The Prince of Orange took advantage of the war with France.
It was important for his political future that the war didn't come to an end.
Jan de Witt wanted to negotiate peace.
The people, excited by the supporters of the Prince of Orange, murdered the two brothers.

French: 
Il y montre que la liberté de philosopher
loin d'être une menace comme certains le proclament
permet d'améliorer la stabilité et la sécurité de la société.
Après la publication du Traité théologie-politique,
Spinoza devient une célébrité reconnue par les autres intellectuels de son temps.
Le 20 août 1672; Jean de Witt et son frère sont massacrés à La Haye.
En guerre contre l'Angleterre républicaine, Jean de Witt conclut la paix avec Cromwell, aux dépens de la maison d'Orange.
Le prince d'Orange profita de la guerre que la France de Louis XIV fit à la Hollande en 1672.
Il était important pour son avenir politique que la guerre se poursuive.
Jean de Witt était partisan de la paix.
Le peuple, excité par les orangistes, était en fureur contre les deux frères, ce qui se solda par leur massacre.

French: 
Spinoza s'indigne!
Il décide d'aller placarder sur les murs de La Haye une affiche accusatrice sur laquelle on peut lire
Ultimi Barbarorum
Les derniers des barbares
Mais son logeur, craignant que Spinoza ne soit lynché par le peuple en colère, le convainc de ne rien faire.
En 1673, l'électeur palatin Charles-Louis lui propose la chaire de philosophie à l'Université de Heidelberg.
Mais il y joint une condition que Spinoza ne peut accepter.
Il autorise Spinoza à raisonner, cum amplissima philosophandi libertate,
avec la liberté de philosopher la plus considérable,
dans la mesure où il ne se sert pas de cette liberté pour porter atteinte à la religion.
Spinoza décline son offre.

English: 
Spinoza was outraged.
He decided to go post a note on the walls of The Hague.
Ultimi Barbarorum
“you are the greatest of barbarians”
But his landlord, who though that the mob would murder him too, convinced him not to do it.
In 1673 Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine offered him the chair of philosophy at the University of Heidelberg.
But he added a condition that Spinoza couldn't accept.
He said Spinoza was allowed to reason, cum amplissima philosophandi libertate,
with the greatest freedom of thought,
but only as long as he wouldn't be using this freedom to criticize religion.
Spinoza refused.

English: 
"It is slaves and not free men who get presents when they behave well."
In 1674, Spinoza completed the writing of the Ethics. But it was not published during his lifetime.
In 1676, Spinoza met Leibniz with whom he discussed the Ethics.
"The wisdom and power of human beings rest upon two founding principles:
on the one. hand, that new sciences and new arts are created, and on the other hand that people become more acquainted with what is already known.
on the one. hand, that new sciences and new arts are created, and on the other hand that people become more acquainted with what is already known.
Spinoza's health began to fail in 1676.
He dedicated the last year of his life to writing the Political Treatise.
He died on 20 February 1677.
His premature death was said to be due to lung illness, probably related to the glass dust from the lenses he ground.

French: 
"C'est aux esclaves, non aux hommes libres, que l'on fait un cadeau pour les récompenser de s'être bien conduits."
En 1674 Spinoza finit d'écrire l'Ethique mais l'ouvrage n'est pas publié de son vivant.
En 1676, Spinoza rencontre Leibniz pour discuter l'Ethique.
"La sagesse et la puissance de l'être humain reposent sur deux fondements :
d'une part, que de nouvelles sciences et de nouveaux arts soient créés et,
d'autre part que les gens devient plus familiers avec ce qui est déjà connu."
La santé de Spinoza décline rapidement à partir de 1676.
Il consacre la dernière année de sa vie à l'écriture du Traité politique.
Il décède le 20 février 1677 d'une affection pulmonaire.
Sa mort prématurée est probablement liée à la poussière du verre qu'il polissait.

English: 
HIs friends published his posthumous works:
the Ethics, and three treatises.
"Deus sive Natura"
Spinoza is a monist.
"Monism is a philosophical view claiming that the whole universe constitute one and only being, that is essentially homogeneous despite the diversity of the physical and psychic phenomenons that take place within it.
"Monism is a philosophical view claiming that the whole universe constitute one and only being, that is essentially homogeneous despite the diversity of the physical and psychic phenomenons that take place within it.
a being that possess in itself the reason of its existence and of its laws."
Monism, like pantheism, denies the existence of a personal god that is exterior to the world, and it denies the dualism between God and the universe that it considers like one and only absolute, necessary, and infinite being.
Monism, like pantheism, denies the existence of a personal god that is exterior to the world, and it denies the dualism between God and the universe that it considers like one and only absolute, necessary, and infinite being.

French: 
Ses amis publient ses oeuvres posthumes :
l'Ethique, et trois traités, (Traité de la réforme de l'Entendement, le Traité politique, et l'Abrégé de grammaire hébraïque).
"Deus sive Natura"
Spinoza est un moniste.
"Le monisme est une doctrine selon laquelle l'univers entier constitute un seul être,
partout essentiellement homogène malgré la diversité des phénomènes physiques et psychiques dont il est le théâtre,
un être qui possède en lui-même la raison de son existence et de ses lois."
Le monisme, comme la panthéisme, nie l'existence d'un dieu personnel extérieur au monde
et rejette le dualisme entre Dieu et l'univers qu'il regarde comme un seul et même être absolu, nécessaire et infini.

French: 
La panthéisme part de l'idée de Dieu et y incorpore le monde comme une partie de cet être divin.
Le monisme part de la nature même
et cherche à y découvrir les caractères que nous attribuons à Dieu.
"Le panthéisme est une notion qui se supprime elle-même,
car la notion d'un Dieu présuppose, comme corollaire essentiel, un monde différent de lui.
Si, d'autre part, le monde lui-même doit prendre son rôle, il reste un monde absolu, sans Dieu,
et alors le panthéisme n'est qu'un euphémisme aux lieu et place d'athéisme."
Pour Schopenhauer, le panthéisme et le monisme sont des athéismes
c'est-à-dire des doctrines qui nient l'existence d'un dieu unique et transcendant.
"Tout ce qui est est en Dieu et rien ne peut être conçu sans Dieu."
Une seule réalité fondamentale existe
la nature

English: 
Pantheism starts from the idea of God and considers the world like a part of this divine being.
Monism starts from nature itself and seeks to find in it the characteristics that we attribute to God.
Monism starts from nature itself and seeks to find in it the characteristics that we attribute to God.
"Pantheism is a notion that suppresses itself, because the notion of a God presupposes, as essential corollary, a world distinct from it.
"Pantheism is a notion that suppresses itself, because the notion of a God presupposes, as essential corollary, a world distinct from it.
If the world itself must take God's role, then  what is left is an absolute world, without God, and then pantheism is just an euphemism in lieu of atheism."
If the world itself must take God's role, then  what is left is an absolute world, without God, and then pantheism is just an euphemism in lieu of atheism."
Schopenhauer claims that pantheism and monism are atheisms, that is to say, philosophical views that deny the existence of a unique and transcendant god.
Schopenhauer claims that pantheism and monism are atheisms, that is to say, philosophical views that deny the existence of a unique and transcendant god.
"Everything that is, is in God, and nothing can be conceived without God."
Only one fundamental reality exists
nature

French: 
"tout ce qui est dans la nature, considéré dans son essence et dans sa perfection, enveloppe et exprime le concept de Dieu"
Dieu n'est qu'un nom donné à la nature.
C'est une substance avec une infinité d'attributs.
L'homme n'est qu'un attribut de la seule substance qui existe vraiment, la nature.
Le but de l'Ethique est de nous mettre sur la voie de la joie que l'on peut trouver dans l'amour intellectuel de Dieu.
"La joie est le passage de l'homme d'une moindre à une plus grande perfection."
Merci de vous abonner :)
Un petit like pour me faire plaisir :)

English: 
"everything that is in nature, as considered in its essence and perfection, expresses the concept of God."
God is just a name given to nature.
It is a substance with an infinity of attributes.
Man is an attribute of the only substance that really exist, nature.
The goal of the Ethics is to put us on the way of the joy that one can find in the intellectual love of God.
"Joy is the transition of man from a lesser to greater perfection."
That you so so so much for subscribing :)
A little thumb-up to make my day? :) Thanks
