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1. A APPROACHES TO PPROACHES SPINOZA PINOZA
One of the most remarkable features of the Ethics is its axiomatic form. Spinoza sets out at the start a small
number of definitions and axioms that are assuredly true, and proceeds to deduce from these the rest of his
philosophy. In this respect, the work is an attempt to use a theory of philosophy that is modelled upon Euclid's
Elements. Historically, the axiomatic form had a long tradition; direct influence upon Spinoza has been
attributed amongst others to Descarte, Hobbes and Geulincx [7, p. 169]. But the Ethics is significant in that it is
"the only major philosophical work of the 17th century rationalists which undertakes, and at least in form
achieves, the frequently expressed goal of extending the mathematical ‘method' in this direction." [9, p. 16]
What should we make of the use of axiomatic form? In 1834, Heine wrote:
Dann finden wir bei Spinoza, wie bei Descartes, die der Mathematic abgeborgte Beweisführing. Dieses......

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