Abstract

NARVAEZ, Mario. Nulla accommodatio: reason and faith in Spinoza's hermeneutics. Tópicos [online]. 2018, n.36, pp.55-70. ISSN 1666-485X.

In his famous Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Spinoza offers a method of interpreting the Scriptures so that, through its application, the reader can objectively capture the meaning of the texts and thus not incur the same error as Christian or Jewish theologians and philosophers who confuse the field of faith with the realm of reason. Now, to the extent that we read the sacred texts and interpret them using the method proposed by Spinoza, we are also using reason. In this way, we can ask ourselves -following Zac- how is it possible that, even using a method developed by reason, the domain of reason and faith can be kept separate without this implying an invasion of the former over the latter? Thus, our objective in the present work is to examine the way in which Spinoza understands that the application of reason is made in the hermeneutical process. With a view to this end, after presenting the general features of the Spinozian hermeneutical method, we will critically examine the reading proposed by Zac, which will serve as a springboard to present our own interpretation.

Keywords : hermeneutical method; reason; fait; Scriptures; Spinoza.