Ethics

Like many European philosophers in the early modern period Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677) developed a moral philosophy that fused the insights of ancient theories of virtue with a modern conception of humans their place in nature and their relationship to God. Unlike many other authors in this period however Spinoza was strongly opposed to anthropocentrism and had no commitment whatsoever to traditional theological views. His unique metaphysics motivated an intriguing moral philosophy. Spinoza was a moral anti-realist in that he denied that anything is good or bad independently of human desires and beliefs. He also endorsed a version of ethical egoism according to which everyone ought to seek their own advantage; and just as it did for Thomas Hobbes this in turn led him to develop a version of contractarianism. However Spinoza’s versions of each of these views and the way in which he reconciles them with one another are influenced in fascinating ways by his very unorthodox metaphysical picture.