Ethics

A manuscript of Baruch de Spinoza: Ethica in the Biblioteca Vaticana, Vat. lat. 12838. Part 1, theorems 5 (the ending), 6–8. Prop. = Theorem, Dem. = Proof. Benedictus de Spinoza: Ethica part 2. Ethices Pars secunda, De Naturâ & Origine mentis, 1677. "On the nature and origin of the Mind" Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order (Latin: Ethica, ordine geometrico demonstrata) is a philosophical treatise written in Latin by Baruch Spinoza (Benedictus de Spinoza). It was written between 1661 and 1675 and was first published posthumously in 1677.

The Ethics is perhaps the most ambitious attempt to apply Euclid's method in philosophy, which was referred to as “more geometrico” which in Latin meant “in a geometrical manner”. Spinoza puts forward a small number of definitions and axioms from which he attempts to derive hundreds of propositions and corollaries, such as "when the Mind imagines its own lack of power, it is saddened by it", "a free man thinks of nothing less than of death", and "the human Mind cannot be absolutely destroyed with the Body, but something of it remains which is eternal."