The Coherence of Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise

Spinoza’s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus has been critiqued as contradictory and inconsistent. This is why I believe that the question with regard to ‘neglected masterpiece’ should be: How read Treatise a coherent philosophical work? suggest reason seems because of complex juxtaposition its two main foci: relationship between theology philosophy, politics. In this paper, will argue against claim contradiction pursue demonstrate close correlation mutual interdependence both relations. While domains philosophy may be separate, there no salvation ignorant wise. Similarly, theological part Treatise—which focuses on ‘piety’ defense freedom ‘internal religion’—and political part—which ‘peace’, claims state have absolute power over ‘external religion’.