“Ad captum vulgi”. The Meaning and Limits of a Spinozian Syntagm

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Publication Details

Journal
JOLMA
Published
2026-09-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30687/jolma/2723-9640/2026/01/002
Primary Topic
Seventeenth-Century Political and Philosophical Thought
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

“Ad captum vulgi”. The Meaning and Limits of a Spinozian Syntagm

Filippo Mignini
JOLMA
Seventeenth-Century Political and Philosophical Thought
article

“Ad captum vulgi”. The Meaning and Limits of a Spinozian Syntagm

Filippo Mignini
article en

Abstract

Spinoza's question of language is examined through the use of the syntagm Ad captum vulgi , a recurring theme in various passages of his works. The first rule of life set forth in the TdIE requires the philosopher, guided by prudence, to adapt language to the understanding of the common people, both for the practical benefits it can bring and to more easily dispose the common people, dominated by ignorance and passion, to listen to the truth. However, the common people are rigorously excluded from his written works, in which philosophy is explored and promoted with its own demonstrative language inspired by the mathematical model. In his written works in particular, the philosopher's interest is not in language, but in the "things" or doctrines to be communicated.

JOLMA(1)
University of Macerata (IT)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Seventeenth-Century Political and Philosophical Thought
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“Ad captum vulgi”. The Meaning and Limits of a Spinozian Syntagm — Filippo Mignini · JOLMA (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS