Being and Reason: Spinoza's Metaphysics - PHI00127I

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Module summary

An advanced introduction to the metaphysical system of Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) via ideas and arguments drawn from his magnum opus: Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order (1677).

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

This module aims to introduce key issues in the rationalist metaphysical system of Spinoza, as presented in the Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order (1677), including (but not limited to) Spinoza’s views on the metaphysics of substance, the nature of god, the mind-body problem, the emotions, freedom, and death. This module also aims to develop core philosophical skills, e.g., the ability to interpret and critically manipulate challenging and complex texts (i.e., primary texts, in translation, by Spinoza).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

(i) understand and explain a range of key issues and problems in the philosophical system of Spinoza, and express this understanding in clear, precise, and accessible terms;

(ii) develop and articulate ranges of alternative solutions to problems and issues in Spinoza’s philosophy in an open-minded way, drawing on module materials;

(iii) develop and articulate arguments for the alternative solutions considered in relation to these problems and issues, drawing on module materials, identifying some points of weakness and some potential points for development;

(iv) make a judgement about what is the best view on a particular problem from Spinoza’s philosophy and argue in defence of this judgement;

(v) identify some of their strengths and weaknesses by evaluating their own work in relation to departmental marking criteria;

(vi) apply simple strategies for improving their work, based on critical reflection, advice, and feedback; and,

(vii) demonstrate informed sensitivity to cultural and historical context in interpreting and responding to the work of others.

Module content

Spinoza is a continental rationalist and metaphysical ‘system-builder’ who proposed an original, distinctive, and challenging metaphysical model of our universe. This module introduces and explores some key issues from Spinoza’s metaphysical system. We will engage with and evaluate parts of Spinoza’s philosophical system by scrutinising both primary texts (in translation) and some more recent secondary literature.

The module is divided into two parts. First, we examine and explore Spinoza’s rationalism and the principle of sufficient reason, before turning to his account of the basic building blocks of reality (substance, attribute, mode), his substance monism, his view of god as nature (deus sive natura) and arguments for the existence of god, and his views of minds and bodies. Second, we turn to Spinoza’s attempt to explain human emotions, freedom, and politics as expressions of these metaphysical commitments. We will look at Spinoza’s account of virtue, death, “blessedness”, and political freedom as emerging from an all encompassing account of god as nature.

A provisional but indicative weekly schedule (by topic) is as follows:

Week 1. Metaphysical Rationalism: Spinoza and the PSR

Week 2. Substance, Attribute, & Mode

Week 3. Substance Monism

Week 4. Arguments for the Existence of God

Week 5. Mind, Body, & the Mind-Body Problem

Week 6. Defining Emotions through a Metaphysical System

Week 7. Virtue, Will, & Emotional Control

Week 8. Freedom, Power, & Co-operation

Week 9. Death, God, & Blessedness

Week 10. The Right to Do Whatever One has the Power to Do: Spinoza’s Politics

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

All formative and summative feedback will be returned in accordance with University and Departmental policy. Summative feedback will be provided via Turnitin.

Indicative reading

Primary:

Spinoza’s Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order (1677) in The Collected Works of Spinoza, Vol. 1, trans. & ed. E. Curley, Princeton University Press (1985): 408–617.

Secondary:

Bennett, Jonathan. 1984. A Study of Spinoza’s Ethics, Hackett

Dea, Shannon, Julie Walsh, & Thomas Lennon. 2018. ‘Continental Rationalism’ in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2018 edition), ed. E.N. Zalta

Della Rocca, Michael. 2008. Spinoza, Routledge

Douglas, Alexander. 2023. The Philosophy of Hope: Beatitude in Spinoza, Routledge

Frank, Daniel and Jason Waller. 2016. Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Spinoza on Politics, Routledge.

Garrett, Don. 2018. Nature and Necessity in Spinoza’s Philosophy, Oxford University Press

James, Susan. 2012. Spinoza on Philosophy, Religion, and Politics: The Theologico-Political Treatise, Oxford University Press

Lin, Martin. 2006. ‘Substance, attribute, and mode in Spinoza’ Philosophy Compass 1:144–53.

Lin, Martin. 2007. ‘Spinoza’s arguments for the existence of god’ Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 75.2: 269–97.

Lin, Martin. 2019. Being & Reason: An Essay on Spinoza’s Metaphysics, Oxford University Press

Melamed, Yitzhak. 2017. ‘The building blocks of Spinoza’s metaphysics: substance, attributes, and modes’ in The Oxford Handbook of Spinoza, ed. M. Della Rocca, Oxford University Press: 84–113.

Peterman, Alison. 2019. ‘Spinoza’s two claims about the mind-body relation’ in Spinoza in 21st-Century American and French Philosophy, eds. Stetter & Raymond, Bloomsbury: 181–95.

Shein, Noa. 2023. ‘Spinoza’s theory of attributes’ in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2023 edition), eds. Zalta & Nodelman

Viljanen,Valtteri. 2011. Spinoza's Geometry of Power, Cambridge University Press

Wilson, Margaret Dauler. 1999. ‘Objects, ideas, and "minds": comments on Spinoza's theory of mind’ in Ideas and Mechanism, Princeton University Press: 126–40.