“From the Hard Work of Baruch d’Espinoza (1632-1677)“

“Uit het werk van Baruch d’Espinoza“ [1973] regie: Frans van de Staak Synop Love of God and love for sale are presented unequivocally as two sides of the same coin, flipping from scene to scene. Likewise, in the same rhythmic pattern, Spinoza’s text is presented as dialogues ’tout court’. Since all love is in God ─Deus sive Natura─ though not divine in principle, finalization of love would denaturalize its persistent nature (natura naturans), hence love cannot be closed by any finite expression of human nature, as distributed over different modes of affections. Hate as absence of love cannot be closed by itself ─which leads to more and more hate and ultimately to selfdestruction─ but must be overcome only by a contrary and stronger emotion, that is, love for all. So denial of hate eo ipso leads us to love guided by reason. On the other hand denial of love, though ex aequo in spirit contrary to reason, does not expose us to hatred but leaves us