Spinoza: his life and philosophy

Front matter

a

Spinoza:his life and Pt'''os°P|jy:

3 1924 014 600 278

Introduction

PAGE

Preliminary . xv

Sp.'s Works : original publications xvi

Editions xvii

Translations xix

Authorities for Sp.'s life xxii

Portraits of Sp xxvi

Early literature relating to Sp xxvii

English books xxxi

Modern accounts of Sp.'s philosophy xxxv

Special monographs xxxix

Chapter I. The Life -of Spinoza

Birth of Sp I

The Jewish Settlement at Amsterdam 3

Their leaders : Manasseh ben Israel 6

Uriel da Costa 8

State of Jewish education lo

Sp.'s training in youth : Van den Ende 1 1

Story of Clara van den Ende 13

Difficulties with the synagogue 16

Attempt on Sp.'s life : excommunication 17

Change of name : lawsuit with sisters 20

Changes of residence 22

Friendship and correspondence with Simon de Vries . . .23

Friendship with Oldenburg 25 viii CONTENTS.

PAGE

Correspondence as to publication of his works 26

The ' Principles of Descartes' Philosophy ' published . . • ■ 3° The ' Tractatus Theologico-politicus ' published ... • -31

Controversy, and prohibition of the book 33

Invitation to Heidelberg declined 34

French invasion of 1672 : Sp.'s visit to Condi's quarters . . . 36

Plan of pubUshing ' Ethics ' abandoned 38

Death of Sp 39

Publication of ' Opera Posthuma ' 40

Sp.'s manner of life 41

CHAPTER II. Spinoza's correspondence

Letters not strictly philosophical the subject of this chapter . . 44

Sp. questioned by Blyenbergh on origin of evil 46

His reply, and further correspondence 47

Reason and Scripture 50

Anthropomorphism of theology 53

Close of the correspondence ... . . . . 56

Letter to Peter Balling on omens 56

Anonymous correspondent on ghosts 59

Sp. on perfections of divine nature 63

Letter on an alchemical experiment 64

Reply to Van Velthuysen's criticism on 'Tractatus Theologico-

politicus ' . 65

Sp.'s general view of religion 69

Later correspondence with Van Velthuysen as to publication . . 70

Correspondence and acquaintance with Leibnitz 71

With Tschimhausen 73

Letter from Albert Burgh on his conversion to Church of Rome . . 75

Sp.'s answer 77

Part I. — Judaism and Neo-Platonism. Philosophy must renounce finality go

Ideas permanent, not systems g.

Leading ideas of Sp. : uniformity (pantheism) g4

Identity of body and mind (monism) gc

Self-preserving effort (natural law) g5

CONTENTS.

PAGE

General view of sources of these ideas 87

Uniformity : the Essay on God and Man 89

Not Cartesian in metaphysics . . go

Sp.'s metaphysics developed from theology 92

Jewish theologico-philosophical authors 93

Maimonides 94

Chasdai Creskas 95

Alleged influence of Kabbalah on Sp 97

Possible allusions to it in Sp. . . 100

Giordano Bruno and Avicebron 102

Points of resemblance in Bruno and Sp 104

Part II. — Descartes. Influence on Sp. most important in physics 107

Sp.'s ' things immediately produced by God ' , . . . .108

Motion and Rest treated as things 109

Descartes' axiom of conservation oi quantity of motion - . . .110

His consequent errors iii

Aim of his physical speculations 112

Sp.'s criticism of Descartes 114

' Derivation of principle of self-conservation from Descartes . ,116

Sp.'s gradual divergence from Descartes in psychology . . . 118

Chapter IV. The Doctrine Of Method

Sp.'s treatise ' De Intellectus Emendatione ' 121

Search for the Chief Good 122

Contrast with Descartes' object 123

The good to be aimed at 125

Knowledge and its degrees 126

The test of truth 128

Double use of z(/^a by Sp 131

Reflective knowledge 133

Problems of method stated I3S

Fiction and error I37

Sp.'s conception of truth 139

Sp.'s ' most perfect being ' 141

Doubt and imagination I43

Discipline of the reason I4S

Theory of definition 146

Sp.'s definition includes explanation 147

' Eternal things ' ijo

Identified witb ' infinite modes ' of £'/'/^zVj 152

CONTENTS.

Chapter V. The Nature Of Things

PAGE

State of philosophical ideas and terms in Sp.'s time . 156

Sp.'s geometrical method I57

Definitions of ^^^/fj, Part I IS9

Sp.'s caKJa JKz' and conception of Cause 160

Substance 162

Attributes 163

Modes 165

Infinity of Attributes 166

Parallelism of Attributes .168

Difficulties of Sp.'s theory . 171

Implicit idealism of the system 175

Kant's approximation 176

Summary 178

Sp. on infinity 179

On notions of time, measure, and number 181

Sp.'s ' aids of the imagination ' not Kantian 185

Note on the Infinite Modes 187

Chapter VI. Body And Mind

The doubleness of experience 189

Subject and Object, Mind and Matter 190

Theories of relation between Mind and Matter 192

Sp.'s account 193

Complexity of human mind 195

Doctrine of association 106

Confused knowledge and error 198

Universals 200

Degrees of knowledge 201

Sp.'s determinism 202

No distinct faculties of mind 205

Will and judgment 206

Automatism of body 207

Advantages of necessarianism according to Sp 210

No distinct theory of perception in Sp. 212

CONTENTS.

Chapter VII. The Nature Of Man

PAGE

Preface to Part 3 of £"//kcj 214

Self-preservation 216

Sp.'s use of conattts . . . . . . . . . .218

What is a thingl 210

Self-preservation and desire 221

Self-preservation as incident to life ....... 222

Pleasure and pain 224

Love, hatred, &c 226

Extension of emotions by sympathy 228

Active emotions 230

The definitions of the emotions 233

Introduction to Part 4 of Ethics 245

Remarks on the argument from design 246

Perfection and imperfection, good and evil 250

Emotion controllable only by emotion 252

The life according to reason 253

Agreement of Sp. with the Stoics 255

Development of ethical doctrine 257

Virtue as intelligence 258

Element of common-sense morality in Sp 260

Society and law 261

What things are useful 263

Enjoyment of life 264

Returning good for evil 265

Some passions relatively good 266

The reasonable or free man .... .... 26S

Sp.'s appendix of maxims . ... . . . 271

Chapter IX. The Deliverance Of Man

The power of reason 278

Criticism of Descartes' physical theory of will 279

Division of Part 5 of Ethics 280

The government of the passions 283 xii CONTENTS.

PAGB

The use of moral precepts 285

The love of God 287

The eternity of the mind 288

Aristotelian and Averroist doctrines of immortality : Gersonides . 289

Sp.'s argument 292

Discussion of his meaning 295

The mind's knowledge ' under the form of eternity ' . . . . 296

The ' intellectual love of God ' 300

Return to physical aspect : concurrent development of body and

Morality independent of eternity of mind 305

Virtue its own reward 306

Conclusion of the Ethics 308

CHAPTER X. Sp. as publicist belongs to English school 310

Relation to Hobbes 312

Theory of sovereignty as compared with Hobbes . . • . 315

Sovereignty never absolute 317

Special revelations not to hold against law 315

Review of ' Tractatus Politicus ' 321

Scientific treatment of subject 323

General ideas . . ; ' 325

' Natural right ' . 327

The State and its power 328

Can the State do wrong ? 330

Ideal of government 332

Ideal of special forms of government : Monarchy . . . . 333

Aristocracy ,,,

Federal government ,34

Democracy ,,5

The treatise broken off ,,g

Chapter XI. Spinoza And Theology

Theology and philosophy

Sp.'s personal position

Criticism of theological doctrines in Ethics, Part i ": necessity of

God's action

Things could not have been otherwise . .

349 341

343 344

. CONTENTS.

PAGE

Deity and moral law 346

Final causes 348

God as conceived by Sp 352

The ' infinite understanding ' . . , , , . • . 353

Personality 354

Sp.'s pantheism 355

Sp. on historical revelations ... .... 357

The voice from Sinai ... 360

Revelation in general , . .^61

Religion and morality . . 363

Sp. on pre-eminence of Christ 365

Sp.'s letters to Oldenburg on the Resurrection 366

Religion as guide of life for the unlearned 368

Chapter XII. Spinoza And Modern Thought

Nature of Sp.'s influence 373

Early controversy in Netherlands 375

Spinozistic heresies in the Reformed Church : van Hattem and

Leenhof 376

Cartesian opposition ; attitude of Leibnitz 379

Slight notice by English philosophers 381

English theological criticism 383

French writers on Sp 386

Voltaire 387

Boulainvilliers 388

Montesquieu's knowledge of Sp 389

Lessing's vindication of Sp 390

Conversation with Jacobi 391

Goethe 394

Later recogition of Sp. in Germany 397

Post-Kantian philosophers 397

Study of Sp. in England : Coleridge 4C»

Shelley's intended translation 403

Later English criticism 404

Study of Sp. in France 405

Bicentenary commemoration in Holland 405 xiv CONTENTS,

APPENDIX A.

PAGE

The Life of Spinoza by Colerus 409

APPENDIX B.

Ordinance of July 19, 1674, condemning the ' Tractatus Theologico-

politicus ' 444

APPENDIX C.

1. Dutch originals of certain letters of Sp. ... . 446

2. Unpublished letter of Sp. to Dr. Meyer (in V. Cousin's library) . 447

APPENDIX D.

Circular of the Spinoza Committee 45 1

APPENDIX E.

Table showing Sp.'s position in the history of Philosophy 456

Erraiuin.

Page 45, note i/ the first essendi should be existeiidi

INTRODUCTION.

The purpose of this book is to put before English readers an account, fairly complete in itself and on a fairly adequate scale, of the life and philosophy of Spinoza. It aims, in the first instance, at being understood by those who have not made a special study of the subject ; but I hope that it may also be not useless to some who already know Spinoza at first hand, and even to critical students of philosophy. In order to reconcile these objects as far as possible, I have thought it well to collect once for all in this introductory chapter a certain amount of critical and bibliographical matter, which the reader who is interested in it will thus find ready to his hand, while the less curious may with equal ease pass it over. I propose here, not to enter at large on the bibliography and literature of Spinoza, but to give sufficient indications to any one who desires to go further on his own account. This will involve some partial repetition of matters elsewhere touched upon in the course of the book. But I prefer repetition to obscurity.

First let me premise that a most useful, one may indeed say an indispensable, companion to anything like a critical study of Spinoza is Dr. A. van der Linde's Benedictus Spinoza : Bibliografie (the Hague, 1871). This is a classified catalogue of the literature of the subject, which, if not absolutely complete, is as complete down to its date as the learning and industry, of one man could in the nature of things make it. While I am mentioning the work of a Dutch scholar, I may at the same time gratefully acknowledge my personal obligations to several members of the Spinoza Memorial Committee xvi INTRODUCTION.

in the Netherlands for help and information freely given on various points. Herein I am specially bound to Dr. Betz, the Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Campbell, of the Royal Library at the Hague, and Professor Land, of Leyderi.

What has to be said here may be distributed under the following heads : —

I. Editions and translations of Spinoza's works. II. Authorities for Spinoza's life.

III. The early or controversial stage of Spinoza literature. VI. Modern writings on Spinoza's philosophy as a whole. V. Monographs and special discussions treating of parts (especially the De Deo et Honiine) and particular aspects of Spinoza's work.

Dr. van der Linde's work is referred to as Bibliogr. simply. It brings us down, as I have said, to 1871. Much more has appeared since that time, as to which I can only call attention to the more important of the publications with which I have become acquainted. In some few particulars I am able to supplement Dr. van der Linde's information as to writings of earlier date.

I. The Works of Spinoza.

These, in the original order of publication, are as follows : —

1. Renati des Cartes Principiorum Philosophise pars I & II, more geometrico demonstratas per Benedictum de Spinoza Amstelodamensem. Accesserunt ejusdem cogitata metaphysica, &c. Amsterdam, 1663.

2. Tractatus Theologico-politicus, continens dissertationes aliquot, quibus ostenditur libertatem philosophandi non tantum salva pietate et reipublicse pace posse concedi : sed eandem nisi cum pace reipublicjE ipsaque pietate tolli non posse. Hamburg (really Amsterdam), 1670. Some notes of Spinoza's own to this treatise came to light later. See Bruder's preface, and Ed. Bohmer : Ben. de Sp. Tractatus de Deo et Homine &c. atque Adnotationes ad Tractatum Theologicopoliticum. Halle, 1852.

3. B. d. S. Opera Posthuma. Amsterdam, 1677. The contents arc :

INTRODUCTION. xvii

Ethica ordine geometrico demoiistrata.

Tractatus politicus.

Tractatus de intellectus emendatione.

Epistolse doctorum quorundam virorum ad B. d. S.

et auctoris responsiones.

4. (Tractatus de Iride.) Stelkonstige reeckening van den Regenboog. The Hague, 1687. {Bibliogr. no. 36.)

This work was long lost sight of and supposed to have perished. It was recovered and reprinted by Dr. van Vloten in his Supplementum (see below).

5. Letter of Spinoza to Dr. Lambert van Veldhuysen. 1844. Published by Prof. Tydeman, and given in ed. Bruder as Ep. 75. {Bibliogr. no. 35.)

6. Ad Benedict! de Spinoza opera quae supersunt omnia supplementum. Amsterdam, 1862.

By Dr. J. van Vloten. Uniform with Bruder's ed. (see below), so as to make a supplementary volume to it. Contains Spinoza's early Essay on God and Man, the Treatise on the Rainbow, and some letters and parts of letters not before published.

7. In 1705 two letters written in Dutch by Spinoza, and including a paragraph not given in the Opera Posthuma, appeared in a periodical called Boekzaal der Geleerde Werrelt. They seem to have been forgotten till Prof. Land quite recently lighted upon them : see his paper reprinted from the proceedings of the Dutch Academy of Sciences, ' Over de eerste uitgaven der brieven van Spinoza,' Amsterdam, 1 879 ; and Appendix C to this book.

8. Letter of Spinoza to Dr. Meyer of Aug. 3, 1663. French translation given by Saisset, CEuvres de Spinoza, iii. 458. The original is printed for the first time in this book (Appendix C). This letter might conveniently be cited as Ep. xxix. a.

Three collected editions of Spinoza's works have been published : by Paulus (Jena, 1802, 2 vols.), Gfrorer (Stuttgart, 1830), and Bruder (Leipzig, 1843-6, 3 vols.). Full titles and particulars in Bibliogr. 38, 39, 41. The edition by Paulus is still useful to the student, as all the authorities then known for the life of Spinoza are conveniently brought together in

a 2 xviii INTRODUCTION.

the Collectanea at the end of vol. ii. Unfortunately the text is by no means free from misprints ; and more unfortunately this edition seems to have been used to print from in both Gfrorer's and Bruder's, and some serious errors, though not all, thus remain uncorrected. I have noted the following in the Ethics : —

Part I, Prop. 22 : ' Quicquid ex aliguo Dei attributo,' &c. So 0/>/>. Posth., as the sense requires. All the modern editions give alio.

Part 3, Prop. 21, Demonst. : 'Deinde quatenus res aliqua tristitia afficitur,' &c. Modern editions have re.

Part s. Prop. 33, Schol. : '. . . nisi quod »2^«j easdem has perfectiones . . . aeternas habuerit,' &c. Modern editions (except Gfrorer) have metus. Errors in the original edition of the Opera Posthuma have likewise remained uncorrected. See Ed. Bohmer, Spinozana, in Fichte's Zeitschrift fiir Philosophic und philosophische Kritik, i860, vol. xxxiii. p. 153. But as to two of the remarks there made, see ib. vol. xlii. 1863, p. 97, «. where they are retracted by the author.

Gfrorer's edition has a Latin preface of considerable merit, in which the argument for determinism is put with a certain freshness of topics and instances. In this preface there is also a misprint or lapsus calami odd enough to deserve special notice. In the part relating to Spinoza's letters we read:' ' Penultima a iuvene nobili Edmundo Burk [Alberto Burgh] conscripta est'

Bruder's edition is the handiest and altogether best equipped of the three, and the most convenient for reference.

Dr. Hugo Ginsberg has more lately undertaken a new edition, in which I have seen the Ethics, the Letter.s, and Tractatus Theologico-politicus. (Leipzig, 1875, &c.) A fourth volume, apparently completing the edition, is announced this year. The introductions contain much useful matter carefully brought together. The text professes to be an improvement on Bruder's ; but as regards the Ethics and Letters the editor's intention of collating the original text of the 0pp. Posth. has not been thoroughly carried out by those entrusted with the work. All the errors above noted are repeated ; besides which the number of new misprints can only be called

INTRODUCTION. xix

enormous. The additions to the Letters first published in Dr. van Vloten's Supplementum are also not fully given. See Mind, vol. ii. p. 273.

As to translations : —

Dutch. — A version of the ' Principles of Descartes' Philosophy ' (Renatus des Cartes beginzelen der wysbegeerte, &c.) was published at Amsterdam in 1664. The translator, named only as P. B., is stated to have been Peter Balling, one of Spinoza's correspondents {Bibliogr. no. 2). The Tractatus Theologico-politicus was translated into Dutch as early as 1673, and agaiu in 1694 (Bibliogr. nos. 17, 18); and the Opera Posthuma appeared in Dutch almost as soon as in Latin (De nagelate Schriften van B. d. S. &c. Bibliogr. 23). This last work is well and carefully executed. The purity of the language contrasts remarkably with the Latinisms which infested the current writing of the time, and some errors in the Latin text of the 0pp. Posth. are tacitly corrected. There do not seem to be any modern Dutch versions.

English. — There is no complete English translation of Spinoza, nor any trustworthy one of his most important philosophical works. The Tractatus Theologico-politicus was translated in \ 689, and again (a reprint .') in 1 737. The translation of 1689 is, like the original, anonymous ; neither is Spinoza's name mentioned by the translator. So far as I have looked at it, the rendering is pretty accurate, but it has no great literary merit. . Lastly, in 1 862, and in a second edition, 1868, there appeared a version which was on the face of it anonymous, but was known to be the work of the late Dr. R. Willis, and afterwards acknowledged by him. The same writer published some years later a translation of the Ethics and Letters. (Benedict de Spinoza ; his Life, Correspondence, and Ethics. Triibner & Co., London, 1870.) Of this book Professor Flint has lately said, with perfect judgment and discretion, that it may be recommended to the merely English reader. I should be glad to imitate his reserve, but silence might be misunderstood. The fact is that Dr. Willis, with extensive reading, a fair knowledge of philosophy, and great interest in his subject, had not either scholarship adequate to his task, or that habit of an exact use of language which is

XX INTRODUCTION.

almost as needful to the translator as knowledge of the original tongue. The result (though, for many reasons, it is painful to have to say it) is that this version is far too inaccurate to be of any serious use. Not only shades of meaning are missed, and Spinoza's terse Latin spread into loose paraphrase, but there are constant errors in the rendering of perfectly common Latin particles, idioms, and constructions. The same remarks apply to the translation of the Tractates Theologico-politicus. There is a still later anonymous translation of the Ethics (New York and London, 1876). Unfortunately the writer looked upon Dr. Willis as an authority, and copied neariy all his mistakes. In 1854 there appeared a translation of the Tractatus Politicus by W. Maccall (Bibliogr. no. 32, in Corrigenda), a small book in an apparently obscure series called The Cabinet of Reason. It is in the British Museum, but has escaped the libraries of both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The translator speaks with enthusiasm of Spinoza ; why this particular work was chosen for translation does not plainly appear.

It appears from a diary kept by Shelley's friend Williams at Pisa and Lerici in 182 1-2, that Shelley not only planned ■but executed to some extent a new translation of the Tractatus Theologico-politicus: 'to which Lord B. [Byron] has consented to put his name, and to give it greater currency, will write the life of that celebrated Jew to preface the work.' This passage was first published in Mr. R. Garnett's article, 'Shelley's Last Days,' Fortnightly Revieiv, June 1878 (vol. xxiii. N.S., p. 858). A fragment of the first chapter, written it would seem in England, and accidentally preserved, and a fac-simile of the MS., may be seen in Mr. C. S. Middleton's ' Shelley and his Writings ' (London 1858). See p. 403, below. No other trace of Shelley's design remains.

The treatise De Intellectus Emendatione, the Principia PhilosophicB and Cogitata Metaphysica, and the book De Deo et Homine, have never to my knowledge been done into English.

French. — The Tractatus Theologico-politicus was translated in 1678, and appeared under several false titles at once {La clef du sanctuaire . . . Reflexions curieuses d'un esprit dMn-

INTRODUCTION. xxi

t^resse . . . Traits des CMmonies superstitienses des Juifs. Bibliogr. nos. io, ii, 12). More recently the principal works of Spinoza have been translated by E. Saisset {CEuvres de Spinoza. Paris, 1842 ; 2nd ed. 1861, 3 vols. : reprinted without alteration, 1872). The first volume is a critical introduction. The translation is faithful, but the Principles of Descartes' Philosophy and a good many of the letters are omitted. The critical and bibliographical information has to some extent become obsolete since Dr. van Vloten's publication of new matter. Another version, intended to be complete, has been begun' by M. J. G. Prat, and is still in progress {CEuvres complies de B. de Spinoza. Premiere sdrie : ' Vie de Spinoza, par Lucas ; ' ' Vie de Spinoza, par Colerus ; ' ' Principes de la Philosophie de Descartes et Meditations m^taphysiques.' Paris, 1863. Deuxi^me serie: Traits Th^ologico-politique, 1872. Ethique, Premiere Partie, 1880). A version of the Traciatus Politicus, by the same hand, appeared separately in i860. In 1878 M. Paul Janet gave for the first time a French version of the De Deo et Homine, of which more presently.

German. — There have been several German translations of the Ethics and other works of Spinoza. It will suffice to mention here Auerbach's (last edition entitled B. de Spinoza's sdvtmtliche Wi?r^^, . Stuttgart, 1871, 2 vols.), and a yet more recent one in J. H. von Kirchmann's Philosophische Bibliothek, Berlin, 1868-72, which since its completion is also to be had in a collected form. Auerbach's version contains the whole philosophical works of Spinoza, including in the last edition the essay De Deo et Homine, and is wonderfully close to the original. The preface and life of Spinoza prefixed to the first volume contain in a^ort compass nearly all the extraneous information which the reader is likely to want, and form an excellent introduction to fuller study.^

Italian. — The Tractatus Theologico-politicus has recently appeared in an Italian version, namely :

Trattato Teologico-politico di Benedetto de Spinoza, &c.

' I may here mention that Auerbach's novel Spinoza : ein Denkerleben, is still practically inaccessible to English readers who do not know German. A French version appeared some time ago in the Revue Germanique, but has not been separately published. There are two Dutch translations, the latest dated 1875 ; and a Spanish one by Gonzales Senano (n.d.).

xxii INTRODUCTION.

(translating full title of original), tradotto dal testo latino per Carlo Sarchi. Milan, 1875. Pp. xlii and 368. Preface by way of dedication to S. Cesare Correnti. At p. xxxiii the translator says : ' Non solamente concorda lo Spinoza colla metafisica del Vico, di cui non fu mai incolpata la cattolica ortodossia, ma sono consentanei i suoi principii con quelli di S. Tommaso, del Dottore angelico, siccome se ne pu6 accertare chiunque voglia meditare le Quest, ii, iii, iv, v, e seguenti della Somma Teologica!

Spanish. — Still more lately there has appeared the first instalment, containing the Tractatus Theologico-politicus, of a Spanish version of Spinoza's philosophical works :

II. Authorities for Spinoza's Life.

I, Colerus. — First and chiefly we have the life of Spinoza by Johannes Colerus (Kohler), German minister of the Lutheran congregation at the Hague. This congregation, existing side by side with the Dutch Reformed Church in freedom and security much beyond any rights officially, allowed to it, was to some extent under the protection of German Lutheran princes ; and, for the convenience of Germans residing at the Hague in the service of the States or otherwise, there was a German minister as well as a Dutch one. This office was filled by Colerus from 1693 to 1707. The usage of a bilingual ministry was kept up till 1832, when the last German pastor died. Colerus first published his life of Spinoza in Dutch, together with a controversial sermon against Spinozism (Amsterdam, 1705. Bibliogr. 88). This original edition Is extremely rare. Only two copies are known, one of which is in the Royal Library at the Hague and the other at Halle (Bibliogr. p. vii). It was almost immediately followed, and for all practical purposes supplanted, by a French version (La v^rit6 de la r&urrection de J6sus Christ d^fendue centre B. de Spinoza et ses spectateurs [secta-

INTRODUCTION. xxiii

teurs]. Avec la vie de ce fameux philosophe, tir^e, tant de ses propres Ecrits, que de la bouche de plusieurs personnes dignes de foi qui I'ont connu. Par Jean Colerus, Ministre de I'Eglise Luth^rienne de la Haye. The Hague, 1706. Bibliogr. 90.) This French version of the life has been several times reprinted ; it is to be found in Paulus' edition of Spinoza, in Saisset's and Prat's translations, and at the end of Dr. Ginsberg's edition of the Letters. An English translation of it appeared in the same year, which is reprinted at the end of this book (Appendix A), and a German one in 1723, remarkable for a portrait of Spinoza, in the lettering of which he is described as ' characterem reprobationis in vultu gerens.' There was a later German translation from the original Dutch, 1734 (Bibliogr. 91-93). Many details have been added or cleared up since, but Colerus remains the principal authority. What gives his witness a singular value is its freedom from all suspicion of designed panegyric. He detests the philosophy of Spinoza, but is too honest to slander his character as a man, or even to conceal his admiration for it.

2. Opera Posthtimasxid Supplementum. — Some biographical information is given in the editors' preface to the Opera Posthuma, and something may be gathered from various passages in Spinoza's correspondence, notably in the portions first made known by Dr. van Vloten, who has also given other documentary evidence bearing on Spinoza's life both in the Supplementum and in his Dutch work on Spinoza (see below).

3. Leibnitz. — A few personal recollections of Spinoza are preserved in Leibnitz's writings. They will be specially mentioned in their place in the biographical part (Paulus, Collectanea ; Foucher de Careil, Leibnis, Descartes, et Spinoza).

The remaining sources of information are of less weight.

4. Lucas. — Early in the eighteenth century, we cannot say vs^hen first, but it seems before 171 2 at all events (see extract from Brit. Mus. MS. below), there became current in MS. a biography of Spinoza, attributed in the preface to one Lucas, a physician of the Hague. It was often associated, under the common title La vie et V esprit de Mr. Benott de Spinosa, with a certain Traits des trois imposteurs.

xxiv INTRODUCTION.

which has nothing to do with Spinoza, and is again distinct from the Latin book De tribus impostoribus, though it pretends to be from a Latin original. In this form the hfe was printed at Amsterdam in 17 19, in a publication called Nouvelles Litteraires, and also in a separate book. The book was almost immediately called in ; the life was reissued alone at Hamburg [.?], 173S, and this edition also became very scarce (the British Museum has a copy).' Meanwhile the Count de Boulainvilliers, who possessed an early MS. copy, had worked it up with the life by Colerus into a not very coherent whole (La vie de Spinosa ^crite par M. Jean Colerus . . . augment^e de beaucoup de particularMs tiroes d'une vie manuscrite de ce philosophe, faite par un de ses amis) in his book called a refutation of Spinoza, but really a popular exposition, v/hich was published after the author's death (Brussels [.'], 1731. Bibliogr. 107, where the date is given as 1726 by the misprint of XXVI. for XXXI.).

The additions in Boulainvilliers, and some passages of Lucas omitted by him (these from a MS. copy), are given in Paulus' edition as footnotes to Colerus ; and Lucas is reprinted at large from ed. 1735 by M. Prat (he does not mention whence he obtained the use or a transcript of the book) in his CEuvres computes de B. de Spinoza, ire s6rie. The history of this work, and the connexion of the different forms in which it has existed, were first unravelled by Paulus (preface to vol. ii. of his edition). One could wish it were better worth so much trouble. It is the production of an ardent and undiscriminating panegyrist, confused in its narrative, and not always consistent with what is known from other quarters. As Auerbach justly says, Lucas' enthusiasm prevents him from telling his story clearly or soberly. His unsupported evidence is, in my opinion, worth very little, and at best we can only use him as a witness auxiliary and subordinate to Colerus. The authorship of this biography has been called in doubt on the ground that Lucas (of whom, by the way, very little seems to be known, save that he was the author of a

' At the foot of p. 47 is the catchword L'ESPRIT, belonging to the title ' L'Esprit de M. de Spinosa,' which followed on p. 49 in the original issue of 1719, p. 48 being blank.

INTRODUCTION. xxv

satirical work called Les Quintessences) was not capable of it (Prosper Marchand, Diet. Historique, article ' Impostoribus '). But the question is not worth discussing.