A Rose Armed with Thorns: Spinozas Philosophy Under a Novel Lens

This book presents a systemic analysis of Spinozas philosophy and challenges the traditional views. It deals with Spinozas concepts of substance, truth conditions, attributes, and the first, second, and supreme grades of knowledge. Based upon an analysis of the relevant details in all of Spinozas philosophical works, the book reveals many important points, including the following: Spinozas system is not, nor is meant to be, a foundational-deductive system but was meant to be a coherent system of a network model. Spinozas reality is not made in the image of a mathematical model. Imaginatio, the first grade of knowledge, and ratio, the second grade, are parts or properties of the supreme grade of knowledge, scientia intuitiva, which is their essence. Finite beings, especially humans, are necessary and eternal (unless they are mistakenly perceived by imaginatio) whereas time, place, and death are simply "entities of imagination." The salvation, happiness, and blessedness that Spinozas Ethics offers us, are active and depend only upon us. Concluding a careful examination and interpretation, the book suggests additional novel viewpoints in interpreting Spinozas philosophical psychology and political philosophy.