Spinoza and PoliticsWith Hobbes and Locke, Spinoza is arguably one of the most important political philosophers of the modern era, a premier theoretician of democracy and mass politics. In this revised and augmented English translation of his 1985 classic, Spinoza et la Politique, Etienne Balibar presents a synoptic account of Spinoza's major works in relation to the political and historical conjuncture in which they were written. Balibar admirably demonstrates, through fine readings of the principal treatises, Spinoza's relevance to contemporary political life. In successive chapters Balibar he examines the political situation in the United Provinces during Spinoza's lifetime, Spinoza's own religious and ideological associations, the concept of democracy developed in the Theologico-Political Treatise, the theory of the state advanced in the Political Treatise and the anthropological basis for politics established in the Ethics. Written with supreme clarity and engaging liveliness, this book will appeal to specialists and general audiences alike. It is certain to become the standard introductory work on Spinoza, an indispensable guide to the intricacies of this most vital of the seventeenth-century rationalists. |
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absolute actions affects analysis argument aristocracy Arminianism Balibar body politic Calvinist causes chapter Church citizens civil command common concept constituted contradiction contrary defined definition democracy democratic Descartes desire dialectic divine Dutch Republic Edwin Curley essence Ethics Etienne Balibar evil existence expression external fact faith fear freedom fundamental Gilles Deleuze Gomarists guidance of reason hatred Hobbes House of Orange human nature idea imagination imperium individual ingenium insofar institutions Johan de Witt knowledge live according Marxist masses meaning metaphysics monarchy multitude natural right notion obedience opinions organise passions praxis preserve problem question rational reciprocal Regents regime relationship religion religious rule salvation schol scholium Scripture simply singular social society soul sovereign sovereignty Spinoza Spinoza and Politics stadholder striving superstition theocracy theologians theology theory thesis things thought tion Tractatus Politicus Tractatus Theologico-Politicus trans translation modified true VIII