Welcome, one and all, to the TML's Vegetal studies / PLSS / Eco-economics group! Thanks to Laura B for leading this initiative. I'll be happy to help with the later sessions as we transition through Bateson to Guattari. Here are two good related works:
Stuart Hampshire, Spinoza and Spinozism
2005, Oxford
Michael Della Rocca, Spinoza
2008, Routledge
This traces Spinoza's arguments in some detail, using the principle of sufficient reason as a guide.
By the way, I think Ian Hacking's and Stuart Hampshire's styles of writing merit study. See for example:
Stuart Hampshire, Justice Is Strife, chapter 1
Cheers,
Xin Wei