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Primary sourceLetter1661-1676, published 1677

Epistolae, Correspondence of Benedict de Spinoza

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1661-1676, published 1677

Spinoza's surviving letters with scholars and correspondents, published after his death, showing him explaining and defending his ideas in his own words.

These letters, written by Spinoza himself, show him explaining and defending his philosophy to correspondents.

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Title page of a 1677 book in Latin. Large capitals read EPISTOLAE, followed by DOCTORUM QUORUNDAM VIRORUM, AD B. D. S. ET AUCTORIS RESPONSIONES, and a line about elucidating other works. Faded text from another page shows through in the background.
Benedictus de Spinoza, Epistolae, published 1677.

About this source

What it is

The Epistolae are the preserved correspondence of Benedictus de Spinoza, published by his followers after his death as part of the Opera Posthuma in 1677. Eighty-eight letters survive, fifty written by Spinoza and the rest by his correspondents, written in Latin and Dutch.

Why it matters

The letters show Spinoza discussing his philosophical ideas—on God, infinity, free will and more—with figures such as Henry Oldenburg, Gottfried Leibniz, Willem van Blijenbergh and Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. They reveal how his ideas were debated, challenged and defended in real exchanges, giving a more personal view of the philosopher than his published treatises.

Look closer

  • What can letters tell us about a thinker that a finished book cannot?
  • Why might some correspondents, like Leibniz, have kept their contact with Spinoza secret?
  • How does seeing both sides of an argument in a letter exchange change how you understand Spinoza's ideas?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Baruch Spinoza on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of Spinoza's Ethica in Latin. Large capital letters read ETHICA, followed by 'Ordine Geometrico demonstrata, ET In quinque Partes distincta, in quibus agitur', then a list of five parts numbered I to V with Latin titles.Book

Primary source

Ethics

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1677 (written 1661-1675)

Title page of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, printed in black letter-style serif type with a handwritten inscription 'Auctore Benedicto de Spinoza' and an ornamental woodcut at the bottom, imprint reading Hamburgi, Apud Henricum Kuhrabt, 1670.Book

Primary source

Tractatus Theologico-Politicus

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1670

Oil painting of a man with long dark curly hair, wearing a dark coat and a large white collar, against a dark brown background. He looks toward the viewer with a calm expression.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of Benedictus de Spinoza

Unknown · c. 1665

Title page of a book. At top: 'B. D. S.' Large capitals below read 'OPERA POSTHUMA,' followed by italic Latin text 'Quorum series post Praefationem exhibetur.' A small woodcut ornament of fruit and ribbons sits in the middle, and at the bottom is the date 'MDCLXXVII' written as 'CIO IC CLXXVII' style Roman numerals.Book

Primary source

Opera Posthuma

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1677

Open handwritten manuscript on aged, browned paper with ink text in dense cursive lines across both pages, the left page torn at its upper and lower edges. Text is in Latin script, with bold headings and marginal notes.Document

Primary source

Vatican Manuscript of Spinoza's Ethics

Pieter van Gent (copyist), after Benedictus de Spinoza · c. 1675

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