Simon Gros

Laurenzo Vinciguerra examines Spinoza’s critique of false or superstitious religion, focusing extensively on the interpretation of the Bible. Spinoza’s inquiry beginns with the first six chapters of his “Theological-Political Treatise.” Here, Spinoza utilizes a combination of philosophical reasoning and biblical exegesis to argue that Scripture does not constrain philosophical inquiry. This distinction is crucial for Spinoza, as it opens the door for philosophy to explore and investigate areas that are not explicitly addressed or limited by religious texts.

Central to Spinoza’s critique is his analysis of prophecy and revelation. Spinoza asserts that prophecy, when properly understood, reveals its limitations. He argues that prophets, while divinely inspired, were primarily concerned with moral teachings and practical guidance for their communities, rather than with philosophical or metaphysical truths. Therefore, Spinoza concludes that the prophets were not competent to speak authoritatively about philosophical matters. This realization is pivotal because it liberates philosophical inquiry from the need to conform to the views and pronouncements of biblical prophets on issues beyond their expertise.

Vinciguerra discusses the significance of the TTP in relation to prophecy and the Prophet, emphasizing Spinoza’s views on the nature and role of prophecy. He explores the concept of presage as a sign of warning or favor, highlighting its relation to superstition. He outlines how the TTP’s theory of imagination aligns with Spinoza’s other works, particularly the “Ethics.” He explains that the chapters on prophecy and the prophet delve into the nature and role of signs, distinguishing prophecy from natural knowledge. Spinoza’s use of passages from his previous works serves to elucidate his concepts of truth and certainty as they relate to knowledge and revelation.

Spinoza makes a clear distinction between philosophical revelation, which requires no signs, and prophecy, which does. He argues that certainty is the objective essence itself, and the feeling of truth depends on the nature of the idea. Prophets, in seeking additional signs to confirm their prophecies, establish moral, theological, and political authority. Vinciguerra notes that Spinoza’s conception of signs extends beyond mere language, encompassing a broader notion that includes various forms of communication and representation. This expansive view of signs is crucial for understanding the role of prophecy and the nature of revelation.

Spinoza’s concept of ‘Imago’ is discussed as a form of knowledge constituted by science. Vinciguerra explains Spinoza’s view on imagination as the mind’s consideration of bodies through their images. He elaborates on Spinoza’s explanation of the genetic definition of images, rooted in the physics part of the “Ethics,” where images are defined as marks of the body, or visia, when a part of the body is determined by an external body.

This was the seventh and final paper delivered at the symposium ‘Thinking with Spinoza: Politics, Philosophy and Religion,’ held on 12th May 2009 by the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London. The symposium gathered leading scholars to explore the intersections of Spinoza’s thoughts on politics, philosophy, and religion, highlighting the continued relevance and impact of his ideas.

Laurenzo Vinciguerra, a prominent philosopher, holds the esteemed titles of Professeur des universités and Agrégé de philosophie in France. He is a full professor at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna and serves as the director of Sive Natura, the International Center for Spinozan Studies (ICSS). Vinciguerra’s academic background is diverse and prestigious. He trained at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan under the tutelage of Vincenzo Ferrari, studied philosophy at the State University of Milan with Carlo Sini, and further specialized at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa under Paolo Cristofolini. His education continued at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he worked with renowned philosophers Bernard Pautrat and Pierre-François Moreau.

Vinciguerra’s scholarly interests are broad, encompassing Spinozism, French philosophy, aesthetics, the philosophy of art, semiotics, and American pragmatism. His work reflects a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary philosophical traditions, bridging gaps between different schools of thought and cultural contexts. His contributions to the study of Spinoza, in particular, have been influential, providing new insights into the relevance of Spinozan thought in addressing modern philosophical and practical issues. Through his directorship at Sive Natura, Vinciguerra continues to foster international collaboration and research in Spinozan studies, promoting a deeper understanding of Spinoza’s work and its applications today.