Spinoza applied rational thought in areas where been applied previously such as mysticism and religious belief. This made him an important figure in the Enlightenment, which is also know as the Age of Reason.
Spinoza’s influence over his contemporaries was limited because:
Although several important contemporary figures like Tschirnhaus and Leibniz showed great interest in his work, his main influence was on late thinkers. Examples include Nietzsche, Marx, Einstein, Hegel and Wagner.
Spinoza’s influence over his contemporaries was limited because:
- He did not want to acknowledge his work for fear of retribution.
- His work was banned and anyone else who published it would have received huge fines and 10 years imprisonment.
Although several important contemporary figures like Tschirnhaus and Leibniz showed great interest in his work, his main influence was on late thinkers. Examples include Nietzsche, Marx, Einstein, Hegel and Wagner.
Statistics
- Spinoza wrote 84 important letters which made his ideas spread.
- He mastered 7 languages : Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and German.
- He had 2 brothers and 1 sister.