Spinoza and the Stoics: Power, Politics and the Passions (Continuum Studies in Philosophy, 64)

This Important New Book Examines Spinoza's Moral And Political Philosophy. Specifically It Considers Spinoza's Engagement With The Themes Of Stoicism And His Significant Contribution To The Origins Of The European Enlightenment. Firmin Debrabander Explores The Problematic View Of The Relationship Between Ethics And Politics That Spinoza Apparently Inherited From The Stoics And In So Doing Asks Some Important Questions That Contribute To A Crucial Contemporary Debate. Does Ethics Provide Any Foundation For Political Theory And If So In What Way? Likewise, Does Politics Contribute Anything Essential To The Life Of Virtue? And What Is The Political Place And Public Role Of The Philosopher As A Practitioner Of Ethics? In Examining Spinoza's Ethics, His Most Important And Widely-read Work, And Exploring The Ways In Which This Work Echoes Stoic Themes Regarding The Public Behaviour Of The Philosopher, The Author Seeks To Answer These Key Questions And Thus Makes A Fascinating Contribution To The Study Of Moral And Political Philosophy.--book Jacket. The Foundation Of Perfectionism -- Pantheism And Determinism -- Vital Endeavor And The Ground Of Virtue -- The Diagnosis Of The Passions -- A This-worldly Salvation -- Psychotherapy And Virtue -- 'what Is In My Power To Do' -- Agreeing With Nature -- The Sociality Of Virtue -- A. Spinoza's Critique Of Perfectionism -- 'nothing Is More Advantageous To Man Than Man' -- Sociality And The Diffusion Of Enlightenment -- Stoic Political Reason -- Cosmopolis And Political Duty -- The Predicament Of Politics -- The Apotheosis Of The Free Man -- Reason Of State -- State Of Nature, Nature Of State -- Political Right And The Most Natural State -- The Highest Form Of Devotion -- Spinoza's Liberalism -- The Philosopher In The State -- Christ, The Apostles And Solomon : Models Of Public Philosophers? -- Philosophical Caution, Political Interest. Firmin Debrabander. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [133]-147) And Index. 0826493939,9780826493934 Continuum Contents 6 Preface 8 Abbreviations 10 Introduction 12 1 The Foundation of Perfectionism 20 1.1 Pantheism and determinism 20 1.2 Vital endeavour and the ground of virtue 24 1.3 The diagnosis of the passions 28 1.4 A this-worldly salvation 33 2 Psychotherapy and Virtue 36 2.1 ‘What is in my power to do’ 36 2.2 Agreeing with nature 47 3 The Sociality of Virtue 58 3.1 Spinoza’s critique of perfectionism 58 3.2 ‘Nothing is more advantageous to man than man’ 67 3.3 Sociality and the diffusion of enlightenment 73 4 Stoic Political Reason 78 4.1 Cosmopolis and political duty 78 4.2 The predicament of politics 82 4.3 The apotheosis of the free man 90 5 Reason of State 96 5.1 State of nature, nature of state 96 5.2 Political right and the most natural state 102 5.3 The highest form of devotion 106 5.4 Spinoza’s liberalism 111 6 The Philosopher in the State 116 6.1 Christ, the Apostles and Solomon: models of public philosophers? 116 6.2 Philosophical caution, political interest 127 Conclusion 138 Notes 144 Bibliography 154 Index 160 A 160 B 160 C 160 D 160 E 160 F 160 H 160 I 160 K 160 L 160 M 160 N 160 O 160 P 160 R 160 S 160 T 160 V 160 W 160 Y 160 Z 160 This important new book examines Spinoza's moral and political philosophy and its contribution to the origin of the Enlightenment from the vantage point of his Stoic influences, and his enduring dialogue with Stoicism, Firmin DeBrabander explores the problematic relationship between ethics and politics that Spinoza encountered and inherited from the Stoics, and in so doing considers Spinoza's responses to several important questions. What is the relationship between politics and an ethic of psychotherapy? Can such an ethic provide any foundation for political theory? Likewise, does politics contribute anything essential to the life of virtue, or does it only harm the latter? And what is the political place and public role of the philosopher? In examining Spinoza's Ethics and Tractatus Theologico-Politicus and the ways in which they echo Stoic themes regarding happiness, wisdom and the public behaviour of the philosopher, the author seeks to answer these key questions, and thus makes a fascinating contribution to the study of moral and political philosophy Examines Spinoza's moral and political philosophy. This book considers Spinoza's engagement with the themes of Stoicism and his significant contribution to the origins of the European Enlightenment. It explores the problematic view of the relationship between ethics and politics that Spinoza apparently inherited from the Stoics.