39 pages 1 hour read

Baruch Spinoza

Ethics

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1677

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Ethics by Baruch Spinoza, written in Latin and published posthumously in 1677, outlines Spinoza’s vision of God as an infinite being, the source of all existence. The book explores the human mind, desires, and passions, ultimately showing how individuals can achieve happiness and true freedom through the contemplation of truth, which is embodied in God.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Ethics by Baruch Spinoza, a seminal work in philosophy, is praised for its rigorous logical structure and profound insights into human nature and the universe. However, its dense, geometric presentation and complex ideas can be challenging for readers unfamiliar with philosophical discourse. Overall, it is a thought-provoking read that rewards careful study.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ethics?

Ethics by Baruch Spinoza appeals to readers fascinated by philosophical discourse, metaphysics, and rationalist thought. Comparable to Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy and Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, it attracts those who ponder existence, ethics, and the nature of God.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Philosophy

Religion / Spirituality

Themes

Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Values/Ideas: Good & Evil