From Stevin to Spinoza: An Essay on Philosophy in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch Republic (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History, 103)

Several schools of thought that are an essential part of early modern philosophy are presented in this work. The author does not concentrate on the main authors or key-concepts that made up seventeenth-century philosophical discourse, but places the practice of philosophy in the Dutch Republic in a wide cultural context. This approach provides the opportunity to assess the emergence and early diffusion of Spinozism as a comprehensive philosophy. This Book Presents A Picture Of Several Schools Of Thought That Are An Essential Part Of Early Modern Philosophy. Yet It Neither Concentrates On Its Main Authors Nor On The Key-concepts Which Together Made Up Seventeenth-century Philosophical Discourse. Instead The Author Has Sought To Situate The Practice Of Philosophy In The Dutch Republic In A Wider Cultural Context. In Particular, This Approach Appears To Provide The Opportunity To Assess The Emergence And Early Diffusion Of Spinozism As A Comprehensive Philosophy.--jacket. Ch. 1. The Heritage Of Humanism. 1. Science In Action. 2. Moral Instruction. 3. Unity And Freedom. 4. Academic Philosophy -- Ch. 2. Dutch Cartesianism. 1. Descartes And The Dutch. 2. The Rise Of Dutch Cartesianism. 3. From Philosophia Naturalis To Physics -- Ch. 3. Cartesian Politics. 1. The First Stadholderless Age. 2. Cartesian Hermeneutics. 3. Republican Politics -- Ch. 4. Spinoza: Friends And Foes. 1. Spinoza's 'circle'. 2. Spinoza's Critics -- Ch. 5. The Fate Of Dutch Spinozism. 1. The Politics Of Dutch Spinozism. 2. The World Bewitched. 3. Radical Enlightenment. Epilogue: The European Context Of Dutch Cartesianism And Spinozism. By Wiep Van Bunge. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.