ABSTRACT
His own view of understanding was straightforward, and maybe not too thoroughly considered: ‘It is when a thing is perceived by pure thought, without words or images, that it is understood’.1 It was also unambiguously simplifying:
And the application to interpretation of writing was no more complicated:
Where does this get us with an understanding of Spinoza’s work? His attitude in his correspondence suggested that he did not see much of a problem. When asked to explain or amplify he tended to merely repeat or emphasise, in accordance with his perceptual metaphor for understanding. The mind is brought into contact with what is understood, and understanding just takes place, like seeing.
