Marx’s silence: on the reception of Spinoza, 1841-1845

Abstract

This paper aims not only to analyse the reception of Spinoza’s philosophy by Marx, but also to establish a dialogue between both philosophies. From the analyses of works by Spinoza and Marx, it can be concluded that, although it is possible to establish a relation of influence in Marx’s formulation of the concept of “true democracy”, the most productive interpretative result occurs when a philosophical dialogue is established between the two authors, as it is only then that one can see what constitutes the originality of each of these thinkers.