Spinoza, the End of History and the Ruse of Reason

Abstract

As the title of this work quite clearly suggests, the question is once again Spinoza's relationship with Hegel, considered from a peculiar point of view. Let us begin by stating briefly what we can expect from this approach: we shall not seek, in reading Spinoza in Hegel, or Hegel in Spinoza, to pursue the chimera of a Spinozist Hegel or a Hegelian Spinoza. Instead, we shall simply read Spinoza and Hegel together, that is to say, one with the other but also one against the other, so as to bring out the possible elements of divergence as they appear through their very convergence. In the simplest terms, the nature of this relationship could be expressed as follows: no doubt Spinoza and Hegel are talking about the same thing - and this is why there is a real commonality between them – but they are talking about it differently, and perhaps even in opposite ways – and this is why, if it is not possible to assimilate their philosophical positions purely and simply, it is not possible to sharply separate them either.