Life of Spinoza

By Francis Goode

Spinoza was a radical Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas still retain the ability to inform, shock and guide. His first biography was written by Jean Lucas shortly after his death. This updated version is written for twenty-first century readers and is published exclusively in e-book form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Francis Goode
• Release date: Mar 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466133990

Francis Goode

Francis Goode's roles include (in alphabetical order) engineer, philosopher and writer. While taking part in the information and communications revolution that has completely changed the way we live and do business with each other, he has never stopped questioning what we are doing, why, and how we might do it better. In the work of the great philosophers, notably Spinoza, he has found some pointers to the roads that may eventually lead to some answers. In his writing, he aims to share the fruits of his searching in as entertaining and informative way as possible.

Book preview

Jean Maximilien Lucas's

Life of Spinoza

by Francis Goode

www.francisgoode.com

Copyright 2012 Francis Goode

Smashwords Edition

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Contents

Introduction

The biographer

About this translation

The Life of Spinoza

Introduction

(top)

This book is the earliest biography of Spinoza, and the only one by someone who knew him personally. Jean Maximilien Lucas, a Frenchman living in Holland, is believed to have written it shortly after Spinoza’s death in 1677, although it was not printed until 1719. This is presumably because of the dangers alluded to in the opening paragraph. Lucas was well aware of the dangers facing anybody who was seen publicly to praise Spinoza.. At that time, to be called a Spinozist was akin to being called an atheist, the term carrying a similar implication of a debauched and sinful existence. So for around forty years, the work was only circulated anonymously and in manuscript form, its existence known only to a select group of Spinozists.

The book cannot be described as objective or evenly balanced: the author makes no secret of his devotion to Spinoza and portrays him in a consistently favourable light. But, even making allowance for this, the book provides a fascinating and valuable eye witness account of the life and works of the great philosopher.

The biographer

(top)

Not much is known about Jean Lucas's early years in Rouen, where he was born in either 1636 or 1646. However, after his move to Amsterdam he became a prominent member of a group of French exiles who took advantage of the more liberal atmosphere in the Netherlands to publish highly critical works about the person and regime of Louis XIV. The journalism and publications of Lucas were not wholly welcomed by the Dutch authorities. Mindful of their belligerent and powerful neighbour, they tried to appease Louis by stifling the stream of criticism coming out of their country. Lucas was fined and banished from Amsterdam on more than one occasion. But despite their efforts, Lucas still succeeded managed to provoke Louis to such an extent that it is said that his outpourings were a significant factor in Louis’s decision to invade Holland in 1672. Lucas took to hiding himself away and