Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Spinoza's exchange with Albert Burgh
- 2 The text of Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
- 3 Spinoza on Ibn Ezra's “secret of the twelve”
- 4 Reflections of the medieval Jewish–Christian debate in the Theological-Political Treatise and the Epistles
- 5 The early Dutch and German reaction to the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus: foreshadowing the Enlightenment's more general Spinoza reception?
- 6 G. W. Leibniz's two readings of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
- 7 The metaphysics of the Theological-Political Treatise
- 8 Spinoza's conception of law: metaphysics and ethics
- 9 Getting his hands dirty: Spinoza's criticism of the rebel
- 10 “Promising” ideas: Hobbes and contract in Spinoza's political philosophy
- 11 Spinoza's curious defense of toleration
- 12 Miracles, wonder, and the state in Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise
- 13 Narrative as the means to Freedom: Spinoza on the uses of imagination
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - The text of Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Spinoza's exchange with Albert Burgh
- 2 The text of Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
- 3 Spinoza on Ibn Ezra's “secret of the twelve”
- 4 Reflections of the medieval Jewish–Christian debate in the Theological-Political Treatise and the Epistles
- 5 The early Dutch and German reaction to the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus: foreshadowing the Enlightenment's more general Spinoza reception?
- 6 G. W. Leibniz's two readings of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
- 7 The metaphysics of the Theological-Political Treatise
- 8 Spinoza's conception of law: metaphysics and ethics
- 9 Getting his hands dirty: Spinoza's criticism of the rebel
- 10 “Promising” ideas: Hobbes and contract in Spinoza's political philosophy
- 11 Spinoza's curious defense of toleration
- 12 Miracles, wonder, and the state in Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise
- 13 Narrative as the means to Freedom: Spinoza on the uses of imagination
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The issues in the textual history of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus that deserve attention can be grouped under the following headings: the genesis of the work; the printing of the Latin text; the early translations; the “Annotations to the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus”; and the later modern editions of the text.
GENESIS
The actual writing of the TTP must have occupied its author from the summer of 1665 to the final months of 1669. The earliest reference to the composition of a work that was eventually to be published as the TTP is to be found in Spinoza's Ep. 30 of the beginning of October 1665, to Henry Oldenburg. Spinoza had broached the subject in a preceding letter, written on September 4 (now lost). This can be inferred from Oldenburg's reply. After enumerating several scientific experiments conducted by Fellows of the Philosophical Society, Oldenburg (in what appears to be a somewhat skeptical vein) contrasts these with Spinoza's new project:
I see that you are not so much philosophising as theologising, if one may use that term, for you are recording your thoughts about angels, prophecy and miracles. But perhaps you are doing this in a philosophic way. Of whatever kind it be, I am sure that the work is worthy of you and will fulfil my most eager expectations. Since these difficult times are a bar to the freedom of intercourse, I do at least ask you please to indicate in your next letter your plan and object in this writing of yours.
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- Spinoza's 'Theological-Political Treatise'A Critical Guide, pp. 29 - 40Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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