Collective Imaginings: Spinoza, Past and Present

Description

Why would the work of the 17th century philosopher Benedict de Spinoza concern us today? How can Spinoza shed any light on contemporary thought? In this book, Moira Gatens and Genevieve Lloyd show us that in spite of, or rather because of, Spinoza's apparent strangeness, his philosophy can be a rich resource for cultural self-understanding in the present. The text draws on re-assessments of the philosophy of Spinoza to develop new ways of conceptualizing issues of freedom and difference. We can apply these newly contextualized theories to contemporary issues such as environmental debates, issues of feminism, our conception of democracy, and the idea of the individual and the community.

"In this erudite, elegantly written work, Lloyd and Gatens produce a critical genealogical reading of Spinoza's philosophy, out of which they craft an innovative conceptual apparatus designed to enable engagement with such vital contemporary issues as freedom and responsibility, difference and diversity. The book is remarkably accessible to readers new to Spinoza, and provocative in offering its readers a way of thinking seriously about imagination, social fictions, and the power of collective critique." Lorraine Code, Professor of Philosophy, York University, Toronto Canada."