Benedict De Spinoza

Benedict de Spinoza (1632–1677) was a Dutch Jewish philosopher and a major figure of 17th-century Rationalism and the Enlightenment. Born in Amsterdam to a family of Portuguese Jewish origin, he was excommunicated from the Jewish community for his heterodox views. Spinoza is best known for his philosophical treatise Ethics, published posthumously in 1677, which presents a systematic critique of traditional theology and philosophy.