Spinoza and the concept of superstition

Abstract

The preface of Spinoza’s Theological Polictical Treatise presents
a theory of superstition, which is divided in three parts. In the first
one, Spinoza show the psychological genesis of superstition. In the
second, he uses an historical example to prove his thesis and, at last, he
shows how superstition has been used by monarchy with political ends.
We will analyze each part of this theory of superstition and, in the end,
we will see in what manner the three of them are linked.