Spinoza in Twenty-First-Century American and French Philosophy: Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Moral and Political Philosophy

Description

Over recent decades, Spinoza scholarship has significantly developed in both France and the United States, shedding new light on the work of this major philosopher. Spinoza in Twenty-First-Century American and French Philosophy systematically unites for the first time American and French Spinoza specialists in conversation with each other, illustrating the fecundity of bringing together diverse approaches to the study of Early Modern philosophy. Spinoza in Twenty-First-Century American and French Philosophy gives readers a unique opportunity to discover the most consequential and sophisticated aspects of American and French Spinoza research today. Featuring chapters by American scholars with French experts responding to these, the book is structured according to the themes of Spinoza's philosophy, including metaphysics, philosophy of mind, moral philosophy and political philosophy. The contributions consider the full range of Spinoza's philosophy, with chapters addressing not only the Ethics but his lesser-known early works and political works as well. Issues covered include Spinoza's views on substance and mode, his conception of number, his account of generosity as freedom, and many other topics.

Jack Stetter is Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University New Orleans, USA. Charles Ramond is Full Professor at the Universite Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis, France. He is also Member of the Philosophy Laboratory EA 4008 LLCP and and Director of the International Conference Series Spinoza a Paris 8.

No early modern philosopher proves as vital today as Spinoza. He is an indispensable figure for contemporary philosophers working in very different traditions on very different questions. The papers brought together in this volume show, clearly and excitingly, why Spinoza continues to matter. Jack Stetter and Charles Ramond have, like Spinoza himself, deftly bridged the gap between different philosophical worlds to bring together the very best scholars of the present day who not only interpret Spinoza, but also live out his legacy. This is an eye-opening and a rare volume, whose contributions have the collective power to show us much about the meaning of Spinoza's contribution to philosophy in the broadest sense. * Justin E. H. Smith, Professor of Philosophy, Paris Diderot University, France * This is an extraordinary volume in both aim and execution. Designed to deepen the engagement between American and French approaches to Spinoza, it comprises thirteen essays by leading English-speaking scholars paired with probing responses by leading French-speaking scholars. The essays are rewardingly distributed across a broad range of important and fascinating topics in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. The contributions are of very high quality and consistently advance our understanding of the issues under discussion. It is essential reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of Spinoza's philosophy. * Don Garrett, Silver Professor of Philosophy, New York University, USA *