Philosopher

Uriel da Costa

Philosophy of Religion

Uriel da Costa (about 1585 to 1640) was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher, born Gabriel Fiuza da Costa in Porto to a family of New Christians, Jews forced to convert to Catholicism. After reading the Hebrew Bible he left Portugal for Hamburg and Amsterdam and returned to Judaism, but came to reject rabbinic tradition, arguing from reason and scripture. His Examination of Pharisaic Traditions (1623) denied that the Torah teaches the immortality of the soul. He was excommunicated, his book was burned, and after a reconciliation he was excommunicated again. His autobiographical Exemplar Humanae Vitae treats religion as a human invention and sketches a religion based on natural law. He died by suicide in Amsterdam in 1640, and later thinkers saw him as a precursor of Spinoza.

Facts
Browse and compare
Gender
Male 1
Tradition Family
Western 1
Role in Life
Independent 1
Birth Year
1585 1
Death Year
1640 1
Connections

Associated With

Source Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)

In Branch

Source Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)

In Tradition

Source Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

Also in History Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality
Quote, Lead, nationality
was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)Life, birth
Quote, Life, birth
Da Costa was born Gabriel Fiuza da Costa in Porto.
Sources
1. Uriel da Costa (Wikipedia)
  • Lead, death year
    c. 1585, April 1640) was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher who was born a New Christian but returned to Judaism
  • Life
    His short autobiography contains many details about his life
  • Lead, tradition
    was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher who was born a New Christian but returned to Judaism
  • Life, merchant
    continued his international business
  • Lead, nationality
    was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher
  • Life, birth
    Da Costa was born Gabriel Fiuza da Costa in Porto.
  • In Branch: Philosophy of Religion, Life, Exemplar Humanae Vitae
    Da Costa suggests that all religion is a human invention, and specifically rejects formalized, ritualized religion.
  • Associated With: Skepticism, Life, Exemplar Humanae Vitae
    it also expresses rationalistic and sceptical views
  • In Tradition: Jewish Philosophy, Lead, Judaism
    was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher who was born a New Christian but returned to Judaism
  • In Group: Jewish Philosophy Of Religion, Lead, Judaism
    was a Portuguese Sephardi philosopher who was born a New Christian but returned to Judaism
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.

Philosophy Atlas

How Thinkers Disagree
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme