The Philosophy of Spinoza

What it is

This is an English collection of selected writings by Spinoza, edited by Joseph Ratner and published by the Tudor Publishing Company. It gives translated passages from his work, including parts of his Ethics. The editor's preface says he took the Ethics as far as possible out of its geometrical form. The facts given do not include a publication date.

Why it matters

Spinoza's main work, the Ethics, is set out in the form of geometry, which makes it hard for many readers. Selections like this one offer a way in. The editor argues that Spinoza would not have been averse to this kind of popularizing, since Spinoza himself wrote a short popular account of his ideas. The collection shows how English-speaking readers have met his thought through chosen passages rather than complete texts.

Look closer

• What does an editor choose to leave out when making a selection, and how might that change the picture of Spinoza?
• Why does the editor believe Spinoza would have approved of making his work easier to read?
• Who is this book written for, and what does its plain English tell you about its intended reader?