Blackwell Companions to Philosophy-A Companion to Spinoza

A celebrated metaphysician, epistemologist, political philosopher, and a seminal figure of the Enlightenment, Benedict de Spinoza remains one of the most radical thinkers of the early modern period. Controversial in his time for his critiques of scripture, Spinoza is widely considered to be one of the great rationalists of the 17th century, and his thought has had a lasting influence on a range of fields including metaphysics, ethics, political theory, religion, and Judaism.

A Companion to Spinoza presents a panoramic view of contemporary Spinoza studies in Europe and across the Anglo-American world. Designed to stimulate productive dialogue between the analytic and continental traditions, this extraordinary volume brings together 53 original essays from an international team of established and emerging scholars which together explore Spinoza's philosophy, legacy, and influence and advance new ideas to direct future research. Divided into six thematically organized sections, chapters examine Spinoza’s life and background, his contributions to metaphysics and natural philosophy, his epistemology, politics, ethics, and aesthetics, and his reception in the work of interlocutors such as Kant, Schelling, Schopenhauer, and Hegel.

Thoughtfully composed and expertly curated, A Companion to Spinoza is an unparalleled reference resource for researchers and scholars in Spinoza studies, students of modern philosophy, intellectual history, and the history of metaphysics, and general readers interested in the life and legacy of one of history’s most remarkable thinkers.

An unparalleled collection of original essays on Benedict de Spinoza's contributions to philosophy and his enduring legacy

A Companion to Spinoza presents a panoramic view of contemporary Spinoza studies in Europe and across the Anglo-American world. Designed to stimulate fresh dialogue between the analytic and continental traditions in philosophy, this extraordinary volume brings together 53 original essays that explore Spinoza's contributions to Western philosophy and intellectual history. A diverse team of established and emerging international scholars discuss new themes and classic topics to provide a uniquely comprehensive picture of one of the most influential metaphysicians of all time.

Rather than simply summarizing the body of existing scholarship, the Companion develops new ideas, examines cutting-edge scholarship, and suggests directions for future research. The text is structured around six thematically-organized sections, exploring Spinoza's life and background, his contributions to metaphysics and natural philosophy, his epistemology, politics, ethics, and aesthetics, the reception of Spinoza in the work of philosophers such as Kant, Schelling, Schopenhauer, and Hegel, and more. This unparalleled research collection combines a timely overview of the current state of research with deep coverage of Spinoza's philosophy, legacy, and influence.

Part of the celebrated Blackwell Companions to Philosophy series, A Companion to Spinoza is an ideal text for advanced courses in modern philosophy, intellectual history, and the history of metaphysics, and an indispensable reference for researchers and scholars in Spinoza studies.