Spinoza by León Dujovne: Between Mysticism, Geometry, and Jewish Philosophy

Abstract

Between 1941 and 1945, a monumental work on the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza was published in Argentina. This work is Spinoza, a four-volume set by León Dujovne, which systematically and exhaustively addresses the philosopher’s life, his intellectual context, his thought, and his reception in European philosophy. The aim of this Argentine scholar’s work was to gather and critically analyze the secondary literature on Spinozism produced in the early decades of the 20th century, while also offering a thorough interpretation of Spinoza’s thought. However, the fate of this work was unexpected: shortly after its publication, and without gaining significant recognition, it fell into obscurity, a fate that has persisted to this day. In this paper, we seek to revive this work, arguing that it presents the author’s unique, original interpretation, which emphasizes the presence of a religious spirit that shapes, permeates, and nourishes Spinozism, and which is a legacy of his Jewish cultural heritage. Furthermore, we aim to discuss this interpretation on the basis of a close examination of the source, particularly Spinoza’s Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata.