We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2011
The issues in the textual history of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus that deserve attention can be grouped under the following headings: the genesis of the work; the printing of the Latin text; the early translations; the “Annotations to the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus”; and the later modern editions of the text.
GENESIS
The actual writing of the TTP must have occupied its author from the summer of 1665 to the final months of 1669. The earliest reference to the composition of a work that was eventually to be published as the TTP is to be found in Spinoza's Ep. 30 of the beginning of October 1665, to Henry Oldenburg. Spinoza had broached the subject in a preceding letter, written on September 4 (now lost). This can be inferred from Oldenburg's reply. After enumerating several scientific experiments conducted by Fellows of the Philosophical Society, Oldenburg (in what appears to be a somewhat skeptical vein) contrasts these with Spinoza's new project:
I see that you are not so much philosophising as theologising, if one may use that term, for you are recording your thoughts about angels, prophecy and miracles. But perhaps you are doing this in a philosophic way. Of whatever kind it be, I am sure that the work is worthy of you and will fulfil my most eager expectations. Since these difficult times are a bar to the freedom of intercourse, I do at least ask you please to indicate in your next letter your plan and object in this writing of yours.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
