In this paper I focus on Spinoza’s philosophical anthropology. In the introduction I provide an overview of the various positions held by the scholarship with regard to this topic. I will then tackle Suhamy’s interpretation. This reading, although suggesting, seems however not tenable. In order to provide my solution to the problem, I will examine some affects – such as commiseratio, benevolentia, and pudor – in order to understand how Spinoza deals with humans and humanity. These passions show a way to act virtuously which agrees with reason, without however following from it. As a conclusion, I will argue that humanity is not to be understood as a general essence involving all human beings, but rather as an achievement of the individual – that is, that humanity is to be identified with the virtuous behaviour that underpins the living of a good man.
