In Spinoza's metaphysics there is only one substance, God or nature. Martin Lin offers a new interpretation, arguing against idealist readings where the metaphysical is grounded in something epistemic, logical, or psychological. In Lin's realist interpretation, finite natural creatures stand to God or nature as waves stand to an ocean. "clear, well-written, and peppered with healthy self-irony.... interesting and stimulating... I am looking forward to continued engagement with this important work." -- Yitzhak Y. Melamed, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "clear, well-written, and peppered with healthy self-irony.... interesting and stimulating... I am looking forward to continued engagement with this important work." -- Yitzhak Y. Melamed, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Martin Lin, Associate Professor, Rutgers University Martin Lin is a professor of philosophy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. His research concerns metaphysics and philosophy of mind in the early modern period. Martin Lin, Associate Professor, Rutgers University Martin Lin is a professor of philosophy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. His research concerns metaphysics and philosophy of mind in the early modern period.