ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a new horizon from which it will be able to draw a hidden facet of Baruch de Spinoza’s philosophy, for Spinozism has to unfold itself by encountering not only the European world but also the non-European world. Re-examination of Spinozism from a non-European viewpoint, for example through a Japanese prisma, will probably develop a phase of Spinozistic studies different from that of European ones. The system of Spinozism hides diversified elements and different streams of thought that it would reveal itself only by a worldwide encounter. Europe accepted the philosophy of Spinoza in the self-denying process, which provided good soil for the seed of Spinozism to fall on. The origin of the concept of Spinoza’s God belongs to his exotic background wherein varieties of heresy may originate. The fundamental idea of Spinoza’s metaphysics manifests itself in the principle Deus est natura, or Deus sive natura, with which Spinozistic concepts are thoroughly imbued.
