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Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Latin Text

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1670

Spinoza's controversial treatise on religion and politics, written in Latin and published in 1670.

This is Spinoza's own treatise arguing for religious and political freedom, published anonymously in 1670.

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Title page of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus in Latin. Heading reads TRACTATUS THEOLOGICO-POLITICUS, continens dissertationes aliquot, followed by a Latin subtitle and a Bible citation from 1 John 4:13. Below is a printer's device and the imprint Hamburgi, apud Henricum Kunrath, 1670.
Benedictus de Spinoza, Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, 1670, Gebhardt edition, 1925.

About this source

What it is

This is the title page of Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, printed in Hamburg in 1670, shown here in the 1925 Gebhardt edition. The Latin title page includes a Bible citation and the original printer's details.

Why it matters

In this treatise, Spinoza argued for freedom of thought and the separation of religious and political authority, ideas that were highly controversial in his time. The work was published anonymously because of the risks involved, showing how dangerous such arguments could be for their authors in the 17th century.

Look closer

  • Why might Spinoza have published this work without his name attached?
  • What does the inclusion of a Bible verse on the title page suggest about how Spinoza framed his arguments?
  • Why might ideas about religious and political freedom have been considered dangerous at this time?

This book 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

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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

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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

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.Letter

Primary source

Epistolae, Correspondence of Benedict de Spinoza

Benedictus de Spinoza · 1661-1676, published 1677

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