Foolhardy

I’m in sympathy with Spinoza. But I find the Ethics difficult to read. He takes Euclid’s Elements as his model, and each time I pick up the Ethics, I hope to find the rigor of the Elements’. (I do know the Elements isn’t flawless. Euclid makes non-trivial tacit assumptions. But the level of rigor is high.) But I always find myself disappointed. Spinoza’s proofs have a multitude of obvious gaps. What to do? The generous forgive Spinoza his oversights. The foolhardy attempt a rewrite of the Ethics. I am both.

Take a look.