Finalism, Religion, and Miracles

Abstract

Abstract In the TTP, Spinoza attributes the origin of belief in miracles to the ancient Jews as part of the belief that God arranged natural events to benefit the chosen people. Anthropocentric finalism would, therefore, be a belief originating within a particular group of people. In Ethics, however, the human people are considered inclined to believe in anthropocentric finalism of nature. Furthermore, in Ethics, Spinoza argues that finalism is by its nature anthropocentric. Finalism is judged responsible not only for prejudices concerning metaphysics and theology but also for those concerning the investigation of nature. Therefore, the entire natural philosophy of Aristotle is involved in the criticism of finalism conducted by Spinoza in Ethics.