Spinoza: Selections

In these Selections the Ethic is printed entire (W. H. White translation), as is the Improvement of the Understanding (Elwes, Bohn translation). In the case of the Short Treatise (Wolf translation), most of the second part, which consists of an immature and largely Cartesian account of the passions, is omitted. It is believed that all the letters (Wolf translation) of real philosophic importance have been included. Although parts of the Tractatus Theologico-politicus are of great philosophic interest, this work together with the Tractatus Politicus is primarily of social and political significance, and is therefore omitted from this volume.