SPINOZA ON CEREMONIAL OBSERVANCES AND THE MORAL FUNCTION OF RELIGION

Abstract

* This paper was originally delivered as a talk at the international workshop on Spinoza’s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, organised by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, University of Leiden, Department of Philosophy (May 20, 2008). I thank Eric Schliesser for inviting me and the other participants for their stimulating comments. Suggestions by Ursula Goldenbaum, Herman De Dijn and Stephen Nadler on an earlier version of this text helped me a lot. I am especially indebted to an anonymous referee of Bijdragen for some clarifications and improvements. 1 All references to the Tractatus Theologico Politicus and the Ethics are to the Shirley edition: Benedict de Spinoza, Complete Works, With the Translations of Samuel Shirley, Edited by Michel L. Morgan, Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 2002. SPINOZA ON CEREMONIAL OBSERVANCES AND THE MORAL FUNCTION OF RELIGION*