Spinozistische Feldmetaphysik und physikalisches Materieverständnis

This paper contrasts Jonathan Bennett’s field metaphysical interpretation of Spinoza with field theoretic approaches from modern physics. Following on from the variety of examples given by Bennett and his followers, this discussion encompasses both classical as well as quantum field theories; in particular, different versions of geometrodynamics and the attempts by Einstein and others towards a unified field theory. This then leads to the question of whether a sustainable analogy between modern field physics and Spinoza’s metaphysics (and hence a Spinozian philosophy of nature) is possible at all. Such an analogy seems available, but — as the discussion will show — it is strongly dependent on the interpretation of Spinoza’s distinction between finite and infinite modes.