Single Idea 7836

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism]

Full Idea

In Spinoza's 'Ethics' one can substitute the word "Nature" (or "Substance", or even simply an X) for God throughout, and the logic of the argument changes little, if at all.

Gist of Idea

In Spinoza, one could substitute 'nature' or 'substance' for the word 'God' throughout

Source

report of Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]) by Matthew Stewart - The Courtier and the Heretic Ch.13

Book Reference

Stewart,Matthew: 'The Courtier and the Heretic' [Yale 2007], p.236


A Reaction

This claim, if correct, is the clearest statement of why we should really consider Spinoza one of the first atheists, despite his endless use of the word 'God'.