This is a guidebook to the Ethics, the major work of the seventeenthcentury philosopher Baruch Spinoza. This book differs from other introductory books on Spinoza in a number of ways. First, it does not assume that you have any philosophical background. I do not presume that you know (or remember) Descartes’ theory of substance, that you understand what ‘extension’ means or that you already know what ‘naturalism’ is. As far as possible, I explain Spinoza in terms that any reader can understand. Second, this book is designed to be read alongside the Ethics, page by page. I imagine you have both books open in front of you, turning to this book for clarifi cation after reading a few pages of Spinoza. You will fi nd concepts explained in exactly the same order as they arise in the Ethics. You can work through the book systematically or turn to specifi c sections as you need them.

Everything you need to know about Spinoza's Ethics in one volume. The Ethics presents a complete metaphysical, epistemological and ethical world-view that is immensely inspiring. However, it is also an extremely difficult text to read. This book takes readers through the text, stopping at the most perplexing passages to explain key terms, unfold arguments, offer concrete examples and raise questions for further thought. It is designed to be read alongside the Ethics, enabling students to think critically about Spinoza's views and build an understanding of his complex system.