Piety, Peace, and the Freedom to Philosophize (The New Synthese Historical Library, 47)

The 11 essays collected here have been composed by members of the North American Spinoza Society. They exhibit the fruits of the research, investigation and erudition of an array of established scholars and newer students whose interpretations of Spinoza's philosophical doctrines are receiving critical acclaim. This is the first collection in the English language dedicated exclusively to topics, problems or questions raised by the teachings found in Baruch Spinoza's __Tractatus theologico-politicus__. Divided into the themes of piety, peace, and the freedom to philosophize, the essays treat Spinoza's views on faith and philosophy, miracles, the light of Scripture, political power, religion, the state, the body politic, the idea of tolerance, and philosophic communication, as well as his connections to Walter Benjamin, Blaise Pascal, David Hume, and his Jewish heritage. __Readership__: An excellent collection for students and scholars studying Spinoza, the history of early modern philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and those concerned with theologico-political questions. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages xiii-xiii Faith Set Apart From Philosophy? Spinoza and Pascal....Pages 1-23 Spinoza’s Account of Miracles....Pages 25-44 Spinoza and the Light of Scripture....Pages 45-63 Front Matter....Pages 65-65 Rereading the Tractatus theologico-politicus In Light of Benjamin’s “Theologico-Political Fragment”....Pages 67-89 Power in the Tractatus theologico-politicus ....Pages 91-109 Toleration and the Right to Resist in Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise : The Problem of Christ’s Disciples....Pages 111-132 Power, Politics, and Religion in Spinoza’s Political Thought....Pages 133-158 Body and the Body Politic in Spinoza’s....Pages 159-187 Front Matter....Pages 189-189 How Jewish Was Spinoza?....Pages 191-208 Did Spinoza Lie to His Landlady?....Pages 209-231 Spinoza, Philosophic Communication, and the Practice of Esotericism....Pages 233-269 Back Matter....Pages 271-293 The eleven essays contained in this volume were composed by members of the North American Spinoza Society. They exhibit the fruits of the research, investigation, and erudition of an array of established Spinoza scholars as well as newer students of Spinoza whose interpretations of his philosophical doctrines are receiving critical acclaim. The essays contained here represent the first English language collection of works dedicated exclusively to topics, problems, or questions raised by the teachings found in Baruch Spinoza's Tractatus theologico-politicus.. This anthology is an excellent collection for students and scholars of Spinoza, the history of early modern philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and those concerned with theologico-political questions.