The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza's Ethics

This book is a detailed and accessible look at one of the most exciting and contested works of Western philosophy.

Olli Koistinen (Edited by)

9780521853392, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 31 August 2009

334 pages
23.4 x 15.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.57 kg

'Olli Koistinen's 'companion' to Spinoza's Ethics is exactly what it claims to be. … The methodological breadth of the contributions is impressive.' British Journal for the History of Philosophy

Since its publication in 1677, Spinoza's Ethics has fascinated philosophers, novelists, and scientists alike. It is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and contested works of Western philosophy. Written in an austere, geometrical fashion, the work teaches us how we should live, ending with an ethics in which the only thing good in itself is understanding. Spinoza argues that only that which hinders us from understanding is bad and shows that those endowed with a human mind should devote themselves, as much as they can, to a contemplative life. This Companion volume provides a detailed, accessible exposition of the Ethics. Written by an internationally known team of scholars, it is the first anthology to treat the whole of the Ethics and is written in an accessible style.

Introduction Olli Koistinen and Valtteri Viljanen
1. The textual history of Spinoza's Ethics Piet Steenbakkers
2. The geometrical order in the Ethics Piet Steenbakkers
3. Spinoza's ontology Valtteri Viljanen
4. Substance monism and identity theory in Spinoza Andreas Schmidt
5. Spinoza and the Stoics on substance monism Jon Miller
6. Spinoza on necessity Charles Jarrett
7. Knowledge in Spinoza's Ethics Diane Steinberg
8. Spinoza on action Ollie Koistinen
9. The anatomy of the passions Michael LeBuffe
10. Freedom, slavery, and the passions Susan James
11. Spinoza's theory of the good Andrew Youpa
12. The power of reason in Spinoza Martin Lin
13. Spinoza on the essence of the human body and the part of the mind that is eternal Don Garrett.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], History of Western philosophy [HPC]