ABSTRACT
Baruch Spinoza’s timelessness is due to the fact that he dealt with the inner dynamics of the invariant emotional life of man and with the constants of human nature. The philosophy of Spinoza which successfully integrates the psychologically therapeutic with the meaningfully philosophic seems to be singularly relevant to meet the present psychological and spiritual needs. In the field of psychology, Spinoza was the first clearly to state the principle of psychic determinism, the sine qua non for the scientific investigation of all mental and emotional events. In Freudian language, the ego ‘can control and often prevail upon the id; or to speak again with Spinoza, rational or adequate ideas can displace the inadequate, mutilated and confused ones. Spinoza’s philosophy constitutes a positive answer to this existential and spiritual quest. Spinoza’s rational and philosophical insights brought profound satisfaction to many illustrious minds and enlightened spirits.
