The following is a list of notable correspondence (Epistolae) of the Dutch philosopher Benedictus de Spinoza (1633-1677) with well-known learned men and with his admirers. These letters were published after Spinoza's death in the Opera Posthuma (Dutch translated edition: De nagelate schriften, 1677).Publications by, for example, the Italian publishing house Quodlibet: quodlibet.it Opera posthuma F. Mignini ed., Amsterdam 1677. Photografic reproduction. Spinoza had preserved the incoming letters and drafts of the letters he sent. In total 88 letters, predominantly concerning philosophical subjects have been handed down: 50 by Spinoza and 38 by his correspondents, 52 written in Latin and 26 in Dutch. The letters discuss topics from Spinoza's own work including infinity and the attributes (properties) of "God", Spinoza's concept of the universe) but also touch on subjects such as ghosts and scientific discoveries, for example the vacuum.

Table of selected letters

The date of the letter is given with a correction for the Old/New Style dating system. A selection from the letters: wikisource Epistolae (Benedictus de Spinoza)

NumberGebhardtnumber"Epistolarum numeri". On the last two pages is a concordance: FromSenderToAddresseeLocationSenderDayMonthYearSubjectLanguage 01 I 01 I Oldenburg, Henry Spinoza, Benedictus de London 16/26 08 1661 God, extension Latin 02 II 02 II Spinoza Oldenburg 09 1661 Attributes (properties) of God, Ethica part 1 axioms, theorem 1–4, mistakes by Descartes and Francis Bacon (1561-1626). Latin 03 III 03 III Oldenburg Spinoza London 27 09 1661 Existence of God, Ethica part 1 axioms, promises to send a book by Robert Boyle. Latin 04 IV 04 IV Spinoza Oldenburg 10 1661 Short answers to questions, Spinoza will visit Amsterdam. Latin 05 V 05 V Oldenburg Spinoza London 11/21 10 1661 Sends Robert Boyle's book: De Nitro, Fluiditate, & Firmitate. Latin 06 VI 06 VI Spinoza Oldenburg 1661? Thanks for and comments on Robert Boyle's book De Nitro, Fluiditate, & Firmitate, with sketches. Latin 07 VII 07 VII Oldenburg Spinoza Boyle thanks Spinoza through Oldenburg for his comments. B. lacked the time to answer Spinoza himself and had to defend himself against attacks on his books about the pressure and expansion of gases. The Royal Society has been founded. Oldenburg exhorts Spinoza to publish in his own free Dutch Republic (Republic of the Seven United Netherlands). Latin 08 VIII 11 XI Oldenburg Spinoza London 03 04 1663 Answer to letter 6? Latin 15 XV 32 XXXII Spinoza Oldenburg 11 1665 Coherence of nature, Christiaan Huygens Latin 23 XXIII 36 XXXVI Spinoza Blijenbergh Voorburg 13 03 1665 "Mijnheer en Vrient", "U. E. V. E. D." Dutch 24 XXIV 37 XXXVII Blijenbergh Spinoza Dordrecht 27 03 1665 Answer to 23, "Mijn heer en vrient", "UEDWD" Dutch 26 XXVI 08 VIII Vries, Simon Joosten de Spinoza Amsterdam 24 02 1664 Discusses Spinoza's work with a group of people. French translation. Asks two questions about nature in the Ethica and the opinion of others. Mentions Casearius, Borelli, Tacquet and Clavius. Questions Ethica part 1 theorem 8 remark 3 and theorem 19 remark 2. Latin 27 XXVII 09 IX Spinoza Vries, de 1663 Spinoza sorts out various kinds of definitions and explains his opinions. Latin 28 XXVIII 10 X Spinoza Vries, de Rijnsburg 1663? Answer on proofs and eternity. Latin 29 XXIX 12 XII Spinoza Meijer, Lodewijk 20 04 1663 Infinity Latin 31 XXXI 18 XVIII Blijenbergh, Willem van Spinoza Dordrecht 12 12 1664 Opening: "Mijn Heer en onbekende Vrient..." Dutch 32 XXXII 19 XIX Spinoza Blijenbergh "Op de Lange bogart" 05 01 1665 Dutch 33 XXXIII 20 XX Blijenbergh Spinoza Dordrecht 16 01 1665 Opening: "Mijn Heer en waarde Vrient" Dutch 34 XXXIV 21 XXI Spinoza Blijenbergh - - - 1665 Latin (no Dutch?) 35 XXXV 22 XXII Blijenbergh Spinoza "Dordrecht by de groote kerck" 19 02 1665 Dutch 36 XXXVI 23 XXIII Spinoza Blijenbergh Voorburg 13 03 1665 Dutch 37 XXXVII 24 XXIV Blijenbergh Spinoza Dordrecht 27 03 1665 Dutch 38 XXXVIII 27 XXVII Spinoza Blijenbergh Voorburg 03 06 1665 Dutch 39 XXXIX 34 XXXIV Spinoza Hudde, Johannes Voorburg 07 01 1666 God Latin 40 XL 35 XXXV Spinoza Hudde Voorburg 10 04 1666 God Latin 41 XLI 36 XXXVI Spinoza Hudde? 05 1666 God Latin 42 XLII 37 XXXVII Spinoza Bouwmeester?, I. B. 10 06 1666 The best method to acquire knowledge. Latin 45 XLV 51 LI Leibniz Spinoza "à Amsterdam" Frankfurt 05 NS 10 1671 Latin, "Illustris et Amplme Vir" 46 XLVI 52 LII Spinoza Leibniz Den Haag 09 11 1671 Answer to letter Gebhardt number 45, in two versions, "Afgegaan den 8ste December 1671" Latin, "Nobilissime Vir" 49 XLIX - Spinoza Graevius, Johannes Georgius at Utrecht Den Haag 16 12 1673 "(Hagse nacht post.)" Latin, "Vir Clarissime", "Omni affectu atque studio Tuus", "Benedictus despinoza" 50 L 50 L Spinoza Jelles, Jarig? 02 06 1674 Difference between Thomas Hobbes and Spinoza on politics and God. Latin 51 LI 45 XLV Leibniz Spinoza Frankfurt 05 styl 10 1671 Latin 52 LII 46 XLVI Spinoza Leibniz Den Haag/The Hague 09 11 1671 Latin 61 LXI 57 LVII Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus? Spinoza 08 10 1674 Difference between Descartes and Spinoza on free will. Latin 62 LXII 58 LVIII Spinoza Schuller? 10 1674 Freedom Latin 63 LXIII 59 LIX Tschirnhaus Spinoza 05 01 1675 Calls on Spinoza to publish his books Tractatus de Intellectus Emendatione (Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect) and Ethica, the definition of motion and the difference between true and adequate ideas. Latin 64 LXIV 60 LX Spinoza Tschirnhaus? 01 1675 Difference between true and adequate ideas. Latin 65 LXV 63 LXIII Schuller? Spinoza 25 07 1675 Four questions on the attributes (properties) of God. Latin 66 LXVI 64 LXIV Spinoza Schuller? 29 07 1675 Gives answers concerning the first three applauded books of the Ethica, that should be handed to a friend. Latin 67 LXVII 65 LXV Tschirnhaus? Spinoza 12 08 1675 Inquires whether there exist two or more attributes (properties) of God, except extension (mass) and thought. Latin 68 LXVIII 66 LXVI Spinoza Tschirnhaus? 18 08 1675 Refers to Ethica part 1 theorem 10 and Ethica part 2 theorem 7 Scholium [remark]. Latin 69 LXIX 80 LXXX Tschirnhaus? Spinoza 02 05 1676 Asks Spinoza to explain his letters on infinity (Letter 29). Latin 70 LXX 81 LXXXI Spinoza Tschirnhaus? 05 05 1676 Explains his position on infinity. Latin 71 LXXI 82 LXXXII Tschirnhaus? Spinoza 23 06 1676 Asks how Spinoza derives the existence of various bodies from extension. Latin 72 LXXII 83 LXXXII Spinoza Tschirnhaus? 15 07 1676 Replies that this is impossible, and that this is not his doctrine. Latin no number 84 LXXXIV Spinoza A friend? - - - - About Spinoza's Tractatus politicus. Latin

References