Spinoza: A Very Short Introduction
ISBN13: 9780192803160ISBN10: 0192803166
Paperback,
144 pages
Jul 2002,
In Stock
due Feb 24 2012
Price:
$11.95 (03)See more from the series
Description
Father of the Enlightenment and the last guardian of the medieval world, Spinoza made a brilliant attempt to reconcile the conflicting moral and intellectual demands of his epoch and to present a vision of man as simultaneously bound by necessity and eternally free. Ostracized by the Jewish community in Amsterddam to which he was born, Spinoza developed a political philosophy that set out to justify the secular state ruled by a liberal constitution, and a metaphysics that sought to reconcile human freedom with a belief in scientific explanation. Here, Roger Scruton presents a clear and systematic analysis of Spinoza's thought and shows its relevance to today's intellectual preoccupations.Features
- Spinoza was the father of the Enlightenment, and developed highly influential philosophical theories
- Roger Scruton shows the relevance of Spinoza's thought to today's intellectual preoccupations
- The only short introduction aimed at non-specialists, written by a specialist, that is accessible and not overwhelming
- Illustrated, with updated bibliography
Reviews
Review from previous edition: "...an interesting and provocative guide'"--Christian Science Monitor
"His exposition is beautifully lucid."--Expository Times
About the Author(s)
Roger Scruton was Lecturer in Philosophy 1971-79, Reader 1979-85, and Professor of Aesthetics 1985-92 at Birkbeck College, University of London.
