~ c.1668 ~
Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order, written by philosopher Baruch Spinoza between 1661 and 1675, is an attempt to apply Euclidean geometry to philosophy. The work is divided into five parts and begins with the assertion that God is the natural world and the substance that comprises the universe. This conflicts with a traditional view of God as an entity that exists outside the universe and that created the universe for a reason. Spinoza supports his argument with a series of propositions and corollaries. In the final part, Spinoza argues that reason can control human passions and achieve rational tranquility, freeing individuals from their emotions.