Baruch Spinoza Quotes (Images)

Baruch Spinoza and later Benedict de Spinoza was a Jewish-Dutch philosopher. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death. By laying the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism, he came to be considered one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy. In 1653, at age 20, Spinoza began studying Latin with Frances van den Enden, a notorious free thinker, former Jesuit, and radical democrat who likely introduced Spinoza to scholastic and modern philosophy, including that of Descartes. Spinoza's health began to fail in 1676, and he died on 20 February 1677, at the age of 45. His premature death was said to be due to lung illness, possibly silicosis as a result of breathing in glass dust from the lenses he ground. Later, a shrine was made of his home in The Hague.