You might also like

More about Benedict de Spinoza Reader

• Book details
• Synopsis
• Trending among others

You get 80 loyalty points

Book synopsis

Benedict de Spinoza's writings laid the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and for modern Biblical criticism. By virtue of his magnum opus, the Ethics, Spinoza is considered one of Western philosophy's definitive ethicists. Men would never be superstitious, if they could govern all their circumstances by set rules, or if they were always favoured by fortune: but being frequently driven into straits where rules are useless, and being often kept fluctuating pitiably between hope and fear by the uncertainty of fortune's greedily coveted favours, they are consequently, for the most part, very prone to credulity. The human mind is readily swayed this way or that in times of doubt, especially when hope and fear are struggling for the mastery, though usually it is boastful, over-confident, and vain. After experience had taught me that all the usual surroundings of social life are vain and futile; seeing that none of the objects of my fears contained in themselves anything either good or bad, except in so far as the mind is affected by them, I finally resolved to inquire whether there might be some real good having power to communicate itself, which would affect the mind singly, to the exclusion of all else: whether, in fact, there might be anything of which the discovery and attainment would enable me to enjoy continuous, supreme, and unending happiness. Spinoza was one of the great rationalists of 17th century philosophy. He helped lay the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism. His correspondence helps shed light on his ethical opinions and positions. Required reading for those who wish a deeper understanding of the writings of Benedict de Spinoza.

Book details

Book category Books in English Humanities Philosophy Ethics & moral philosophy

• Full title: Benedict de Spinoza Reader
• Subtitle: The Ethics, a Theologico-Political Treatise, on the Improvement of Understanding, Correspondence of Benedict de Spinoz
• Author: Benedictus de Spinoza
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardback
• Number of pages: 488
• EAN: 9781604591606
• ISBN: 9781604591606
• ID: 08774410
• Publisher: A & D Publishing
• Weight: 885 g
• Dimensions: 229 × 152 × 32 mm
• Date of publishing: 09. December 2007

Trending among others

---

---

---