Abstract:
Abstract: Spinoza’s view in the Theological-Political Treatise (TTP) is that theology and
philosophy have separate domains and are completely harmonious; theology aims at
obedience and philosophy aims at truth (Spinoza’s “Separation Theory”). Commentators
point out tensions in this theory: Michael Della Rocca argues that philosophy and theology
are continuous in that they both aim at social harmony and Daniel Garber argues that
Spinoza gives philosophy has the ability to defeat theological beliefs. I first argue that Della
Rocca’s problem can be solved via the distinction between obeying God and loving God.
I then argue that James’s Ciceronian reading of Spinoza’s Separation Theory does not
resolve Garber’s problem because it does not provide an account of how philosophy can
defeat theological beliefs.
