Baruch Spinoza

Baruch Spinoza was a 17th-century philosopher known for his work in metaphysics and ethics. He proposed that everything in the universe is part of a single substance, which he identified with God or nature, promoting a pantheistic view. In his ethics, he believed that understanding the world leads to human happiness and virtue. Spinoza argued against free will, suggesting that our actions are determined by natural laws. He viewed space and time as aspects of this underlying substance, challenging traditional notions of separateness. His ideas encourage rational thought and a deep connection with the universe.