How Much of Hobbes Might Spinoza Have Read

Abstract

Spinoza did read Hobbes's De Cive. In fact, he borrowed and adapted freely from that book in the sole major work he published during his lifetime, the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. Here, I raise the intriguing question whether, given dates, places and circumstances, Spinoza could have pondered and followed more of Hobbes's writings with something of the same closeness. Are there some others among Hobbes's numerous publications which Spinoza might just possibly have read?