Why Spinoza was Not a Panentheist

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Abstract

In spite of some panentheistic traits in his philosophy, Spinoza was clearly a pantheist. Spinoza’s God is not personal and not transcendent but immanent, as God is identical to the world or Nature. There are no miracles in nature, and only because of ignorance, mistakes, and errors do we wonder or feel enchantment about it. What is allegedly above reason, is, in fact, much under it, and Nature’s wisdom is entirely immanent. The laws of Nature are the laws of God, and theology and natural science are identical. There is no need of panentheistic traits to know and understand God-Nature-Substance. Nevertheless, the author expresses some doubts concerning this conclusion about Spinoza’s philosophy, a conclusion that he, too, finally endorses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2041-2051
Number of pages11
JournalPhilosophia (United States)
Volume49
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

Keywords

  • Baruch Spinoza
  • God
  • Immanence
  • Panentheism
  • Pantheism
  • Transcendence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Philosophy

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