Spinoza's 'Ethics'

Erscheinungsjahr 2007
ISBN: 978-0-8264-8915-9
Verlag: Bloomsbury 3PL

Buch, Englisch, 184 Seiten, Format (B × H): 145 mm x 222 mm, Gewicht: 373 g

Reihe: Reader's Guides

comprehensive and thorough guide to Spinoza's masterpiece of Rationalist thought

The 'Ethics' is by far Spinoza's most important text, and is widely studied in both undergraduate and postgraduate philosophy courses
- No other introduction to Spinoza's philosophy sticks as close to the text of the 'Ethics', and aids the reader's interpretation and understanding like this Reader's Guide
- The author has taught on the 'Ethics' at all levels for many years

Reader's Guides are clear, concise and accessible introductions to classic works of philosophy. Each book explores the major themes, historical and philosophical context and key passages of a major philosophical text, guiding the reader toward a thorough understanding of often demanding material. Ideal for undergraduate students, the guides provide an essential resource for anyone who needs to get to grips with a philosophical text.

The Ethics is one of the undisputed masterworks of early modern philosophy. In this single volume Spinoza offers the reader an unorthodox account of God, a novel version of the mind-body relation, a systematic theory of the emotions and a detailed prescription for human virtue and blessedness. Too controversial to be published during his lifetime, it was surreptitiously printed by Spinoza's friends after his death. Nowadays the Ethics is studied in university classes as an exemplary work of early modern rationalism.

In Spinoza's 'Ethics': A Reader's Guide, J. Thomas Cook explains the philosophical background against which the book was written and the key themes inherent in the text. The book then guides the reader to a clear understanding of the text as a whole, before exploring the reception and influence of this classic philosophical work. This is the ideal companion to study of this most influential and challenging of texts.

Zielgruppe

Upper Level Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Introductory Undergraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cook, J. Thomas

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Westliche Philosophie: Neuzeit
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Ethik, Moralphilosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Context
2. Overview of themes
3. Reading the text
4. Reception and Influence
5. Bibliography and Notes for Further Reading
Index

Über Autor(innen)

J. Thomas Cook is Professor of Philosophy at Rollins College, Florida, USA. He has taught on the Ethics for many years and published numerous articles and chapters on Spinoza. He serves on the Executive Board of the North American Spinoza Society.