Baruch Spinoza was a 17th-century Dutch philosopher known for his groundbreaking contributions to Western philosophy, particularly in ethics and metaphysics. He rejected the dualism of mind and body proposed by Descartes, arguing instead for a monistic perspective where everything is part of a single substance, which he identified with God or nature. This view positioned him at the forefront of the rationalist movement, emphasizing reason as crucial to understanding existence and uncovering truths about...