NOTES ON BARUCH SPINOZA, Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect

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NOTES ON BARUCH SPINOZA, Treatise on the
Emendation of the Intellect
1632-1677
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The Goal of the Treatise

• In this early work (c. 1656-1661) Spinoza
  explains the nature of philosophy, how it
  contributes to our understanding of what is a
  good life, and what life plan is required for
  achieving a good life.

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Three Parts to the Introduction

• Everyman First-Person Narrative (paragraphs
  1-11)
• The Highest Good (paragraphs 12-13)
• A Life Plan (paragraphs 14-17)

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The Perspective of Everymanon the Nature of a
Good Life

• The unsatisfactoriness associated with such
  conditional goods as sensual pleasure, money, and
  honor
• A philosophical conversion to a better path

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A Philosophical Analysis of a Life Oriented
toward the Highest Good

• An Important Distinction Conditional vs.
  Unconditional Goods

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Formulating a Life Plan for Achieving the
Highest Good

• NOTE Spinoza does not reject conditional
  goods they still serve as an instrumental
  purpose for the attaining the highest good